Glendale Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glendale Public Library |
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| Downtown Central Library | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1906 |
| Location | Glendale, California |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books, audiobooks, LP records, maps, magazines, newspapers, optical media |
The Glendale Public Library is a group of seven library locations in Glendale, California. It's part of the city's Library, Arts & Culture Department. This includes the main Downtown Central Library and the special Brand Library & Art Center. These libraries offer many events and services for everyone in the community.
Contents
Discovering Library Collections
The Glendale Public Library has a huge collection of materials for you to explore. As of 2005, the library owned over 700,000 print items like books. Most of these, over 400,000, are kept at the Central Library.
Special Collections at the Library
The library also has many items important to local history, like old photographs. You can find a large number of books in languages other than English, especially in Armenian. There's also a "Genocide Memorial Collection" with works about difficult historical events. This collection helps people learn from the past.
The History of Glendale's Libraries
Library services in Glendale began in 1906. A group of women from the Tuesday Afternoon Club, a social and charity group, raised money for books. They held lectures to collect funds. The first library opened in a renovated pool room with just 70 books. Soon, 50 more books from a State Traveling Library were added. At that time, Glendale had a population of 1,186 people.
Establishing the Public Library System
In 1907, the City Trustees passed a rule called Ordinance 53. This rule officially created and supported a library that would be "forever free" for Glendale residents and taxpayers. In its first year, the library had 251 books, 165 registered users, and a budget of $248.88.
Building the First Main Library
In 1913, the library received a grant of $12,500 from the Carnegie Corporation. This money helped build the first main library building at Louise and Fifth (now Harvard Street). The building was finished and opened on November 13, 1914. It was made bigger in 1926.
Expanding the Library Building
Between 1940 and 1942, two new sections were added to the building. One became a children's library called the Hans Christian Andersen Room. The other housed the Readers' Service area.
The Modern Central Library Building
The current Central Library building opened on March 13, 1973. It was built on the old site of Glendale Union High School and Glendale College. This new building was much larger, with 92,600 square feet (8,600 m2) of space. That's more than four times the size of the old library!
Updates and New Features
Over the next 20 years, Glendale changed a lot, and so did library technology. The most recent renovation brought many improvements. The Children's Room became larger, and there's now a separate area for audio and visual materials. The Special Collections room, which holds valuable historical information, was also expanded. The areas for Reference and Circulation were redesigned to offer better customer service. A new Business Collection area and a Job Center were created. These additions recognize Glendale's importance as a major business hub in California.
Brand Library & Art Center
The Brand Library & Art Center is a special part of the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department. It focuses on art and music. This center has an art and music library, art galleries, and a recital hall for performances. The art studios here offer classes and workshops. The library has over 110,000 items, including books, music scores, DVDs, CDs, LPs, and magazines.
The History of Brand Library
Brand Library is located in a mansion built in 1904. This mansion, named Miradero (meaning "The Overlook"), sits high in the hills overlooking Glendale and the San Fernando Valley. It was built by Leslie C. Brand. The design of the mansion is unique, similar to an East Indian Pavilion Mr. Brand saw at the 1893 Columbian World Exposition in Chicago.
Architectural Style of Miradero
The architecture is called Saracenic. It features crenellated arches, round domes, and minars. This style combines elements from Spanish, Moorish, and Indian designs. Inside, the mansion had a Victorian style, which was a contrast to its cool white exterior. The architect was Nathaniel Dryden, who was Leslie Brand's brother-in-law.
From Private Home to Public Library
Mr. Brand passed away in the house in 1925. He left Miradero to the city, but his wife could live there until her death. His will stated that the property should only be used as a public park and library. Mrs. Brand died in 1945. By 1956, the mansion had been turned into the Brand Library.
Expanding the Art Center
Ten years later, the city council decided to add more space to Brand Library. This was because more people were interested in art and music. The new addition included facilities for art shows, lectures, concerts, and an art studio for classes. This new part was opened in October 1969.
Supporting the Brand Library
The Associates of Brand Library & Art Center is a charitable group started in 1969. They support the library and art center. They have given art prizes, received art donations, and held fundraisers.
Recent Renovations and Events
The Brand Library & Art Center was closed for two years for a big renovation. This project cost $10 million and was finished in 2014. Today, the Brand Library & Art Center hosts many free events for the public. These include art exhibitions, concerts, art and music lectures, dance events, films, and children's activities. The annual outdoor summer Plaza Series, held on Friday evenings from June to August, is a very popular community event.
Computer Services and Learning
The Glendale Public Library offers many computer services at its Central location and all its branches. The Central Library provides free wireless internet access throughout the building. You can also use wired internet on their 32 public computers at the Central Library and many more at each branch.
Computer Classes for Everyone
The library offers classes on different software programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Their "Computer Club for Beginners" is very popular. This class helps people of all ages learn computer basics, how to search the internet, and how to use email. The library also offers computer classes in Spanish and Armenian.
Adult Reading Program
The Glendale Public Library Adult Reading Program helps adults improve their reading skills. This program combines basic lessons with the adult students' personal goals. It helps adults who struggle with reading learn important skills for life, family, jobs, and self-confidence. Both new readers and those learning English can benefit from this program.
