About the Library
Mission Statement
To meet the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational reading, viewing, and listening needs of the community; to effectively manage library resources to provide consistent, high quality products and services with a knowledgeable and informed staff; to provide an encouraging and receptive environment to promote lifelong learning and personal development.
Goals:
- To provide timely, accurate, and useful information for community residents.
- To feature current, high demand, high interest materials in a variety of formats for persons of all ages.
- To support individuals pursuing a sustained program of independent learning.
- To encourage young children to develop an interest in reading and learning through services for children, and for parents and children together.
History
Did you know that library service has existed in Downey for over 100 years? The community’s commitment to reading and literacy is long-standing and well-rooted. In 1898, seven women residents of Downey met to found a social club. One of their purposes was to establish a public library, which began operating in 1901. A small fee was charged to each patron so that books could be purchased. When the Los Angeles County Library System opened a branch in Downey in September, 1915, the collection was turned over to it. In that year, 215 borrowers were registered, and were able to choose from a collection of 330 titles.
The branch moved several times until it found its last home at the County Civic Center, Third St. and La Reina Ave., in 1950. By 1957, the branch’s 15,000 volumes circulated 123,000 times, and 14,000 people registered for library cards that year.
In 1958, two years after the city of Downey was incorporated, the City Council voted to withdraw from the County library system and to accept responsibility for providing Downey with its own library. A new library building to house 70,000 volumes was quickly authorized. But the initial temporary library service was of a much more modest nature, provided out of the back of a bookstore.
Meanwhile, the City purchased the former Downey Elementary School, and converted it into a City Hall and Police Station. The library was moved into the former school’s cafeteria building, and opened its doors on July 1, 1958, with a full-time staff of six and about 5,000 books. During the next 18 months, the collection grew to 24,000 items.
On Dec. 7, 1959, the new library building, containing almost 16,000 sq. ft., was completed at a cost of $186,200 ($11.97 per sq. ft.). Dedicated on Dec. 17th, it was opened to the public on the 18th. During the first year of operation, 20,000 cards were issued and 144,409 items were checked out. The Friends of the Library was also established in 1959, with the purpose of strengthening ties between the Library and the community and raising funds to provide facilities, services, and collections.
By 1983, the total library collection was over 106,000 volumes, and 90,000 patrons in the Downey, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier area checked out 300,000 items in a year. An addition of nearly 12,000 sq. ft. was completed and dedicated in Feb. 1984. The addition included a new children’s room and office, magazine and newspaper room, circulation desk, restrooms, entryway, display cases, and a bookstore operated by the Friends of the Library.
A literacy program was established in 1985, with many community members volunteering time to teach reading skills to adults. The program continues to the present in assisting people with an essential skill to improve their lives.
Recent years have seen the addition of many programs, services, and facilities:
Electronic database with magazine articles.
Online catalog access from home.
New circulation and lobby area.
Library catalog on the World Wide Web.
Equipment enabling patrons to check out materials by themselves.
Computer lab area with regularly scheduled classes.
Internet and computer programs on ten public workstations.
Entertainment DVD's and books on CD.
Carpenters Collection of books and recordings.
Bilingual story times.
Remodeled Friends of the Library bookstore.
For the fiscal year 2008 - 2009
- People visited the Library over 413,500 times.
- Library users checked out more than 474,000 items from the Library’s collection of 134,488 items.
- Volunteers contributed 9,859 hours of service.
- Library staff helped answer over 59,098 requests for information.
- Downey City Library card holders accessed the Library’s electronic resources over 140,130 times.
City Librarians
- Lester Bergslien (1958 - 1962)
- Ruth Miller (1962 - 1983)
- Victoria Jenkins (1984 - 2002)
- Thaddeus Phillips (2003 - 2006)
- Nancy Messineo (2006 - Present)
Library Advisory Board (Appointed by the City Council)
Chair
Theresa Ford
Chair Pro Tem
Betty Monroy
Board Member
Susan Bouris
Board Member
Irma Landesfeind
Board Member
Pat Smith
Collections
Adult Library
The Adult Collection includes books, magazines,
pamphlets, telephone directories, test preparation books as well as audiovisual
materials such as video cassettes, DVDs and CDs. Also available are audiobooks,
large print books, and international language books. The Library has a
complete Reference Collection including full-text Electronic Databases
such as: Magazine Searches, Newspapers Searches, Associations, Contemporary
Authors, Discovering Authors and Discovering Biography.
Carpenters Collection
The Carpenters Collection comprises numerous CDs,
books, songbooks, albums, videocassettes, a fan club newsletter series,
and publicity materials. Many of the books, CDs and videos may be checked
out. Other materials are housed in a display case located near the circulation
desk.
Government Publications
The Downey City Library is a selective Federal Depository Library.
- Access to Government Publications
- Access to Government Printing Office Web Site
International & Spanish Collections
The International and Spanish Collections consist of fiction, nonfiction,
and reference items. The International Collection is made up solely of
Korean language books. The Spanish collection consists of items such
as books, videos and audio books, totaling more than 3,000 items in
the adult area alone.
Young Adult Area
A section of the Main Reading Room has been set aside
for teenagers. Here you will conveniently find paperback classics, fiction,
and popular magazines for teens, as well as CDs and study tables.
Children's Room
The children's room includes primary reading books,
beginning reading books, nonfiction, fiction, international language books,
videos, audiobooks, paperbacks, magazines and reference materials.
Magazines & Newspapers
The magazine room has recent issues of magazines on
display racks and the back issues for all of our subscriptions; in most
cases they are kept for two years. The L.A. Times, the New York Times and
other popular newspapers are also available on microfilm. One coin-operated
typewriter with correction tape is available at a rate of 50 cents for 20
minutes.
Donations
The library welcomes donations of money or library materials that enhance and increase the usefulness of its collection. For your convenience, materials may be left in the book bin marked "Donations" which is on your left as you enter the library. If you would like a receipt, please ask for one at the check-out desk when you make your donation. We are not able to pick up donations from patrons' homes. However, if you will need help getting the books from your car to the library, or need other assistance, please make an appointment with the Senior Library Assistant at (562) 904-7360 x119. If you would like to make a donation in memory or in honor of a loved one, please contact Library Administration at (562) 904-7360 x110 so that commemorative bookplates may be placed in each book. Administration can also answer questions about the appropriateness of your books or about the donation program. We greatly appreciate your generosity.
Meeting Room
Please call the Administrative Secretary at (562) 904-7360 x110 to reserve the Cormack Room. Completed applications and fees must be submitted one week prior to an event. The library meeting room may be booked no more than three months in advance. Use of the meeting room will be limited to one time per applicant or organization per month.
An application is required for all groups using the library meeting room. Applications are available in the library Administrative Office. The room shall be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Tentative reservations may be made by telephone, but cannot be confirmed until the application and fee(s) where applicable have been received and approved.
The library meeting room will be available for use during normal library operating hours.
The fee structure for using the library meeting room is:
- No charge for Library or City sponsored events.
- $25.00 per hour for Downey Community organizations.
- $50.00 per hour for all other groups.
