Van Nuys Branch facts for kids
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Van Nuys Branch Library
("old"—1926 & "new"—1964) |
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"Old" Van Nuys Branch Library
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14555 Sylvan, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. |
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| Built | 1926; 1964 |
| Architect | Allison & Allison |
| Architectural style | Mission-Spanish Colonial Revival (1926) Mid-century modern (1964) |
| MPS | Los Angeles Branch Library System TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001019 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1987 |
The Van Nuys Branch Library actually refers to two different library buildings. Both are located in Van Nuys, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley within Los Angeles, California. These buildings have both served the community as part of the Los Angeles Public Library system.
Contents
The First Van Nuys Library (1926)
The very first library building, often called the "Old" Van Nuys Branch, was built in 1926. It was designed in a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style by architects Allen & Allen. This style was popular at the time.
Growth of the Old Library
For 37 years, this old library was very busy. When it first opened, about 27,000 books were borrowed each year. By the time it closed, that number had grown to over 350,000 books annually! This shows how much the community used and loved their library.
Historic Landmark Status
In 1987, the "Old" Van Nuys Branch was recognized as an important historical building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places across the United States that are important to history. Many other branch libraries in Los Angeles were also added to this list at the same time. These libraries were built in different old-fashioned styles to serve the city's first library system.
The Newer Van Nuys Library (1964)
The "New" Van Nuys Branch library opened its doors in 1964. It is located in what was then the new Van Nuys Civic Center. This building has a Mid-century modern style. It is a one-story building made of stone, and it reaches out into the surrounding area with a modern walkway. Groves of trees provide shade around the building.
Library Services and Changes
For a while, this building was also the main place for the Los Angeles Public Library's bookmobile service. Bookmobiles are like libraries on wheels that travel to different neighborhoods. In 2005, the "New" library was temporarily closed. There were even plans to sell the building in 2007. However, the city decided to renovate it instead.
Reopening and Recent Updates
After being fixed up and updated, the "New" Van Nuys Branch library reopened. It is now once again the main library for Van Nuys. It is part of a larger group of public buildings called the Government Center complex. In January 2019, the "New" library closed again for more renovations. It was supposed to reopen in Summer 2020, but the work was delayed because of COVID-19.
