Long Beach Public Library Foundation

All LBUSD 3rd Grade Students to Receive a New Dictionary/Thesaurus Thanks to Dictionary Days Sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank Foundation

Thanks to generous support from Farmers & Merchants Bank, the Long Beach Public Library Foundation was able to purchase a new dictionary/thesaurus for every Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) third-grade student. The 2021/2022 school year marks the Dictionary Days program’s 19th year since it was founded in 2003 by the Library Foundation and the […]

Long Beach Leaders are Readers — Ryan Ballard

Long Beach Leaders are Readers is our new series in which leaders in our community share recommended reads available in the Long Beach Public Library’s collection. In celebration of National Library Week 2022, Library Foundation Board President Ryan Ballard has shared the following reading recommendation. My book recommendation is Between the World and Me by […]

More than 60% of Long Beach students read below grade level. Double your impact with a National Library Week donation!

The Long Beach Unified School District recently reported that during this first in-person school year since the pandemic began, 61% of elementary and 66% of middle school students in Long Beach read below grade level. Even more shocking, 8% of elementary and 35% of middle school students read at three or more grade levels behind their […]

Library Foundation Supported Programs in Lincoln Park

In March, the Library resumed in-person storytimes and other programs for youth, including the return of Circle of Stories/Círculo de Cuentos in the newly remodeled Lincoln Park. Circle of Stories/Círculo de Cuentos is a Library Foundation-funded bilingual program for families with children ages 2 to 5. Librarians led children in educational songs, games, and storytimes […]

Family Learning Centers Resume In-person Guidance for Youth and Adult Learners

In March, the Long Beach Public Library announced the reopening of the Family Learning Centers at Billie Jean King Main Library and Michelle Obama, Mark Twain, Bret Harte, and Burnett neighborhood libraries. Trained Learning Guides are available at the Centers to provide one-on-one homework help to students of all grade levels. Adult learners are welcome […]

Long Beach Leaders are Readers — Margaret Durnin

This is the first feature in our new series in which leaders in our community will share recommended reads available in the Long Beach Public Library’s collection. Margaret Durnin, Founder of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation In honor of Women’s History Month, Margaret has shared a couple of her current favorite books written by […]

President Lincoln Memorial Returns to Greet Library Visitors

Since the memorial was unveiled in 1915, the statue of President Abraham Lincoln has stood in front of the Main Library. As the Main Library has evolved through the years, the statue has kept its rightful location to welcome library visitors. You can visit Mr. Lincoln at the newly reopened Lincoln Park in front of […]

Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners in the Long Beach Public Library’s Collection

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation for African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott […]

Ryan Ballard, 2022 Board President

Ryan Ballard has served on the Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board since late 2017. He has contributed to the growth and success of our organization and led efforts for the Board of Directors to better reflect our diverse city as VP of Board Development in 2019. Ballard is also an Advisory Board member of […]

Educational Resources Funded in 2021 Thanks to Your Donations

Thanks to your support, the Library Foundation made the following resources possible in 2021 to help many in Long Beach get their lives and livelihoods back on track. You can give those who depend on the Library even more reason to celebrate in 2022 with a tax-deductible donation to help us support library programs, technology, […]