Redondo Beach Public Library

Redondo Beach Public Library Official page of Redondo Beach Public Library 📚
Main Library: 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway. The new building opened to the public on September 28, 2010.

Pacific Coast Highway
North Branch: 2000 Artesia Blvd
Please visit our website for location hours, the events calendar, digital resources, and more! 🍎 Redondo Beach established its first library in 1895 as a simple reading room in a donated building on the commercially busy Wharf No. 1. On January 2, 1909, the library moved to Room 5 in the west wing of the City Hall at 301 Emerald Street. By 1928

the need for additional space could no longer be ignored, and the Chamber of Commerce suggested a new building be constructed on the site of the old Hotel Redondo, which had been demolished in 1925 after thirty-five years as a seaside resort. Designed by the noted architect Lovel Bearse Pemberton, the new Spanish/Dutch colonial building in Veterans Park on the Esplanade was dedicated on July 2, 1930, and this iconic structure served as the main library for the city for sixty years. Toward the end of the 20th Century earthquake concerns prompted a consideration of the building's safety, and on July 5, 1991 the City closed the Main Library in Veterans Park and reopened in temporary quarters in the Redondo Shores Shopping Center. On July 20, 1993 ground was broken for construction of a permanent library adjacent to City Hall, and two years later on July 8, 1995 the new Redondo Beach Main Library opened at 303 N. Back in 1930 when the Veterans Park Library was new, a branch library was opened in North Redondo at the Grant Community Hall in the Redondo Villa Tract. In 1949 this "North Branch" was moved to larger quarters on Artesia Boulevard. After many years of use that building was closed for demolition in February 2009, and a new building was constructed on the same lot. It is the first City owned Green building and was awarded excellence in environmental design (LEED) certification. The Redondo Beach Public Library is not responsible for content that is posted by members of the public on this page; any comments that contain derogatory or offensive language will be removed. For emergencies, please call 911. The Library will not be responding to direct messages.

An article in the August 12, 1912 “Los Angeles Herald” titled “Death Loses in Race with a Motorcycle,” describes how Geo...
08/06/2026

An article in the August 12, 1912 “Los Angeles Herald” titled “Death Loses in Race with a Motorcycle,” describes how George Freeth rode a motorbike from the Bath House in Redondo to near Center Avenue (now Manhattan Beach Blvd.) to help rescue a swimmer in distress.)

The next year Freeth designed a special rescue motorcycle with a sidecar carrying resuscitation equipment and his famous torpedo buoy. The new machine was featured in Mack Sennett’s 1913 silent movie “The Latest in Lifesaving,” filmed in Redondo and starring Freeth, Ludy Langer and champion women’s swimmer Dolly Mings. (Below: Still image from the movie, and illustration from the June 27, 1913 “Redondo Reflex.”)

Time to plan on attending a great program at the Redondo Beach Library in AugustSouth West Manuscripters Writers Group @...
07/30/2026

Time to plan on attending a great program at the Redondo Beach Library in August

South West Manuscripters Writers Group @ Main Library
August 1 at 10:30am-12:00pm
Main Library 2nd floor Conference Room
A support group for writers to help them network and exchange information.

Butterflies, Seeds and Superblooms @ Main Library
August 1 at 10:30am-Noon
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room
The South Bay Park Land Conservancy will show you how to garden with native plants. A program for the whole family with samples to touch and smell, seed packets to keep and books on plants and pollinators.

Stitch & Sew Redondo @ North Branch Library
August 1 at 11:00am-2:00pm (NOTE SPECIAL DATE)
North Branch Meeting Room – Limit of 30 individuals
Sew, practice or work on a project with fellow sewing enthusiasts. This is a great opportunity for people who sew, wish to practice, or want to work on a project with fellow sewing enthusiasts.
Meetups are on the first Saturday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Sewing Machines and other materials are not provided. Participants are encouraged to bring items or projects that they are currently working on to the program for tips or pointers. All skill levels are represented in our group.
Music Together @ Main Library
August 3 at 11:30am-Noon
Main Library – Meeting Room – Floor 2

Children’s Craft @ Main Library
August 4 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Teen Program – CrEATive Plates Cooking Class @ Main Library
August 5 at 3:00-4:00pm
For grades 6th-12th
Main Library 2nd Floor Meeting Room
Advance sign up required.

Lego Club @ North Branch Library
August 6 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

Monthly Movie Friday @ Main Library
August 7 at 1:00pm-3:00pm
Storytime Room - “Mufasa”

Poetry Workshop @ Main Library
August 8 at 10:30am-12:00pm
Main Library 2nd floor Conference Room
Join other poets for inspiration and collaboration.

Beyblade X Tournament @ North Branch Library
August 8 at 1:00pm-3:30pm
For children 5-12 years old. Play or watch your peers play! Bring your own Beyblade X Bey to participate in the tournament. A variety of additional family board games will be available for everyone to play. **Limited to 24 players**. Signup details on events calendar.
North Branch Library - Meeting Room

Lego Club @ Main Library
August 10 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Adult Book Discussion of the Month – Virtual on Zoom
August 11 at 6:30pm-7:30pm
Virtual Program via Zoom.
The discussion is led by Librarian, Amy Feller. We are reading:
Wellness by Nathan Hill
Free, but registration is required. Sign up at https://library.redondo.org
Click on events calendar; click on program date – Book Discussion; click on “more info” to sign up.

Children’s Craft @ North Branch Library
August 13 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Meeting Room

Instrument Petting Zoo @ Main Library
August 14 at 3:00pm-4:00pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Bubble Party @ North Branch Library
August 15 at 11:00am-Noon
North Branch Library

Book Bedazzle @ North Branch Library
August 15 at 2:00 -3:30pm
Meeting Room
A program for adults, teen and children who are at least 9 years old. Bring your own book to bedazzle, all other supplies will be provided. ** Limited to 20 people** For sign up click on events calendar, click on program date and click on registration link.

Lego Club @ Main Library
August 17 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Family Movie @ North Branch Library
August 18 at Noon -3:00pm
Meeting Room - “Hoppers”

Teen Program – Make Your Own Stickers @ Main Library
August 18 at 4:00-5:00pm
For grades 6th-12th
Main Library 2nd Floor Conference Room

Teen Program – Make Your Own Stickers @ North Branch Library
August 20 at 4:00-5:00pm
For grades 6th-12th
North Branch Meeting Room

Summer Reading Program Finale Party – Science Magic by Discovery Cube @ North Branch Library
August 22 at 11:00am-Noon
North Branch Library Meeting Room
Finale tickets are required to attend this program. Earn a ticket by completing the Summer Reading Program. You have the choice to attend the program at either the Main Library or the North Branch Library.

Summer Reading Program Finale Party – Science Magic by Discovery Cube @ Main Library
August 22 at 2:00pm-3:00pm
Main Library 2nd floor Conference Room
Finale tickets are required to attend this program. Earn a ticket by completing the Summer Reading Program. You have the choice to attend the program at either the Main Library or the North Branch Library.

Coder Dojo @ North Branch Library
August 29 at 10:30am-Noon (note new time)
North Branch Meeting Room
Registration is recommended. Register at https://library.redond.org
Click on events calendar; click on program date; click on register for this event
Limit 20 individuals. Children under 9 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own laptop/chromebook from home.

Shelf Care North Branch Library Book Discussion of the Month – “In-Person”
@ North Branch Library
The Many Loves of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
August 31 at 11:15am-12:15pm
In-Person Book Club on the 4th Monday of the Month unless otherwise noted.
Read the book and talk about it, or just join us to learn more about the book. The coffee served is generously funded by The Friends of the Redondo Beach Library.

REGULAR STORYTIMES – August
Go to: https://library.redondo.org
then click on the Calendar of Events for up-to-date information on Children’s storytimes as program times/dates may change.

All Ages Afternoon Storytime @ North Branch Library
Tuesday 8/25 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

Walkers and Talkers Storytime (1-5 year olds with caregiver) @ Main Library
Wednesday 8/26 at Noon-12:30pm
Main Library Storytime Room
A storytime for children aged 1-5.

Baby Lapsit (0 to 18 months with caregiver) @ Main Library
Thursday, 8/27 at 11:15am-11:45am
Main Library Storytime Room
Babies 0-18 months and their caregivers join in a fun storytime full of songs, rhymes and fingerplays!

SPECIAL STORYTIMES, BLOCKS & MUSIC PROGRAMS

Redondo Beach Fire Department Storytime @ Main Library
July 2 at 3:00pm-3:30pm
Storytime Room

Music Together @ Main Library
August 3 at 11:30am-Noon
Meeting Room – Floor 2

Rainbow Storytime @ Main Library
August 4 at 11:30am-Noon
Storytime Room

Special Music Program – Singing, Sound and Movement with Brenda Sorenson @ Main Library
August 5 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
Storytime Room

Waku Waku Storytime @ Main Library
August 8 & August 17 at 11:30am-Noon
Storytime Room

Music and Movement with Dance 1 @ North Branch Library
August 10 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

Block Party @ North Branch Library
August 11 at 3:00pm-3:30pm
Storytime Room

Block Party @ Main Library
August 13 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
Storytime Room

Special Storytime with Officer Sharon and K9 Cadbury @ North Branch Library
August 13 at Noon-12:30pm
Meeting Room

Bilingual Storytime with NIHAO Chinese School @ North Branch Library
August 17 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

What a difference a few years can make! Women are seen enjoying the Beach at Hermosa in 1910, and at Redondo around 1925...
07/30/2026

What a difference a few years can make! Women are seen enjoying the Beach at Hermosa in 1910, and at Redondo around 1925. The group on the right might be serious women swimmers, who adopted men’s bathing suits early on.

(Photo on the left from the Snyder Family Archives. On the right from the Huntington Library Collection.)

Saturday, August 1 at 10:30am at the Main Library - join us for a program to learn about butterflies and other pollinato...
07/30/2026

Saturday, August 1 at 10:30am at the Main Library - join us for a program to learn about butterflies and other pollinators that you can attract with a native garden. The South Bay Parkland Conservancy will explain what you need to do and give out some native seeds and plant samples.

We invite the entire family to join the L.A. King's Bailey and the Ice Crew at the Main Library this Friday, July 31st, ...
07/28/2026

We invite the entire family to join the L.A. King's Bailey and the Ice Crew at the Main Library this Friday, July 31st, from 1:00pm to 1:30pm for a special reading!

Enjoy free access to this month's LA Lakers book club selection in the Libby app from July 27th - August 9th!
07/27/2026

Enjoy free access to this month's LA Lakers book club selection in the Libby app from July 27th - August 9th!

The Pacific Coast Steamship Company's "State of California," shown here docked at Redondo’s Wharf No. 1 around 1910, was...
07/23/2026

The Pacific Coast Steamship Company's "State of California," shown here docked at Redondo’s Wharf No. 1 around 1910, was built in Philadelphia in 1877. According to a newspaper report from the time, “Neither ship nor state can be excelled.” When the new vessel visited Portland, the captain ordered its six arc lights turned on for a crowd that had gathered at the wharf and, according to other newspaper reports, this was the first time the people of Oregon had seen electricity at work.

The “State of California” had an active career transporting passengers and freight to ports along the Pacific Coast until August 17,1913, when it struck an unchartered rock in Gambier Bay, south of Juneau, Alaska, and sank in three minutes. (The ship should not be confused with the “Californian” which, although close by, failed to aid the sinking “Titanic” in 1912.) This postcard from the John Moon Collection, and many others, is available in the “Archive of Redondo Beach History” on the Library’s “Electronic Resources” page.

A photograph of the railway tracks serving Redondo’s three wharves was taken around 1911 from about Sapphire Street. It ...
07/16/2026

A photograph of the railway tracks serving Redondo’s three wharves was taken around 1911 from about Sapphire Street. It clearly shows they were composed of three, not just two, rails. This allowed trains built for narrow gauge rails (3’6” across) and trains built for standard gauge (4’ 8.5” across) to travel along the same tracks as they picked up and delivered passengers and cargo. The Pacific Light and Power plant, seen smoking away in the near distance, provided the electric power for the trains and for the community’s other electric needs. (Photo from the Cal State University at Dominguez Hills collection.)

Linemen pose in front of Southern California Edison’s Redondo Beach Substation at 412 N. Camino Real (now PCH) in 1913. ...
07/09/2026

Linemen pose in front of Southern California Edison’s Redondo Beach Substation at 412 N. Camino Real (now PCH) in 1913. In the first two decades of the 20th century, automobiles and trucks replaced horses on the city’s streets. (This photograph, titled “The ‘Overhead Gang’ and their autos parked in front of the Redondo Substation,” is from the Huntington Library, Southern California Edison Photographs and Negatives collection. Color photo from Google Maps.)

The Redondo Beach Public Library is closed on July 4th for Independence Day.  Our digital resources are available 24/7.
07/02/2026

The Redondo Beach Public Library is closed on July 4th for Independence Day. Our digital resources are available 24/7.

Address

303 N. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA
90277

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 7pm
Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13103180675

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