Frequently Asked Questions

What is the West Hollywood Library? Back to top

The new West Hollywood Library, which opened in October 2011, is a tremendous gift to the people of West Hollywood and beyond. This state-of the-art library offers free access to much-needed educational resources; what's more, it's also a civic centerpiece designed to showcase the City's rich intellectual, literary and cultural diversity and to provide a landmark facility for the community's passionate commitment to lifelong learning.

What makes the West Hollywood Library "like no other"? Back to top

West Hollywood is a great city with a highly educated and literate population. Our community needs a library that serves as a place to gather, reconnect with one another, learn and experience new ideas and shared passions.

Each day the library is open, nearly 1,000 visitors enjoy features like:

Unique children's storytelling theatre where learning comes alive for families;
Teen library and study center enabling youth to get assistance from library professionals on research projects and daily homework;
Wells Fargo Career Development Center offering job search coaching and assistance;
Stuart Feigin Technology Area featuring Internet enabled computers, and laptops for a portable learning lab;
West Hollywood room and archive which houses historical reference materials and highlights West Hollywood's activist history;
Dedicated space for events, lectures, readings, exhibits, film screenings, and public meetings; and,
A street-side coffee bar with café tables for socializing or quiet reading.

Special collections include:

International Languages with Russian-language reference materials (among others) to serve residents who speak or want to learn another language;
Decorative Arts and Design which features materials, archives, and exhibits to cater to industry professionals in the area;
Large-print Materials for seniors and people who are visually impaired;
The largest collection of LGBTQ literature, history and personal materials on the West Coast; and,
An expanded HIV/AIDS information center.

Why is a library important to the West Hollywood community? Back to top

National research studies collected by the Public Library Association show that libraries play a critical role in advancing community values. These findings support the role of the West Hollywood Library as a center for what residents value most-culture, education, health and economic vitality.

In general, libraries connect people with information and services that help to facilitate civic life. Strong libraries help attract knowledgeable workers and public libraries are often cited as a reason why small businesses choose to locate in a community. In today's rapidly changing world, lifelong learning is essential. The West Hollywood Library provides greater opportunities for people of all ages to engage with and learn new ideas and information.

By providing the support to implement best-in-class programs, the new West Hollwood Library can help:

Improve early literacy and school performance;
Develop a better-educated workforce;
Contribute to the stability, safety and quality of life of our neighborhoods;
Promote appreciation for the unique features of the West Hollywood community including the LGBTQ and Russian communities, the Design industry, the music legacy of the Sunset Strip, and local literary scene; and,
Enhance the vitality of our community by complementing neighboring retail and cultural destinations.

How did the city identify the components of the Library? Back to top

Over the course of five years, the City of West Hollywood conducted a community needs assessment to obtain residents' input on a proposed new library. The assessment and surveys identified a strong community need for a better functioning, larger, and more technologically advanced library. In the West Hollywood Speaks 2006 community survey, more than half of respondents ranked "an expanded and enhanced library facility and services" as one of the most important needs of the community.

Where is the West Hollywood Library located? Back to top

The Library is on the southeast corner of West Hollywood Park on the westside of San Vicente Boulevard. In addition to a state-of-the-art library facility, 2.5 acres of parkland and green space are added to West Hollywood Park. Green space is integral to the library's design and the architects have taken great care to design a building that maximizes as much space for park land as possible. Before construction began, West Hollywood had 16 acres of green space citywide, far below conservative planning guidelines that recommend approximately 100 acres for a city of West Hollywood's size. The new library and parkland fit in with the city's strategic plan to increase the amount of parkland and green space available for residents.

How will my contibution benefit the West Hollywood Library? Back to top

Now that this vital community space exists, the West Hollywood Library Fund seeks your support to ensure that we're using it to enhance the community's access to information, education programs, technology, and each other. As West Hollywood's history has shown, it is only in collaboration that this community can succeed. Your investment is necessary to ensure the West Hollywood Library can give our community a place to develop a love of reading, a quest for knowledge and a thirst for lifelong learning. Help us make the West Hollywood Library place like no other.