On July 2, 2018 Santa Monica Public Library started a new initiative designed to encourage children and teens to use, or return to, the Library.  The Fine Free program will allow youth (age 0-18) who are Santa Monica Public Library cardholders to have increased access and use of the Library...

At a recent supervisors’ meeting we asked the supervisors to think about the four focus areas and how their work connected with those focus areas. Here are their responses. At the April 2018 staff meeting staff thought and wrote about how they interact with Library patrons. Our Library staff reflects...

The Fairview Branch will be presenting their first ever ‘Your Story’ Project this week as part of a Moth inspired storytelling night. Seating is limited and free tickets will be available thirty minutes before performance. Event takes place on Mar. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Fairview Branch Library.  ...

Hello, Santa Monica.  In the off chance you’ve not stopped by the Main Library and met me, my name is Jennifer and I’m one of the newer Librarians at Santa Monica Public Library.  I love my job and getting to interact with the community, so I jumped at the opportunity...

Santa Monica, California – For the seventh year in a row, the Santa Monica Public Library has earned top marks from Library Journal’s national rating of public libraries. The Library Journal (LJ) Index of Public Library Service 2016 ratings, announced November 1, 2016 are based on 2014 data from the...

In California almost one out of ten Spanish speaking immigrants never had the opportunity to learn to read and write in their native language. Los Angeles County hosts twelve percent (222,230) of Spanish-speaking adult immigrants (American Community Survey 2009-2011). These are people who endured severe poverty and isolation in their...

After ten years as a public librarian, I thought I knew what it meant to be outward. I’m a librarian and a civil servant. Connecting with members of the community is a large part of my job. I do it on a daily basis. I know them. I hear them....

I wanted to share with you  a profile in LA Parent Magazine of Ocean Park Branch Youth Services Librarian Julia Casas. The writer was impressed by the efforts Julia makes to highlight books about diverse characters as both a “mirror” of her diverse patrons and a “window” into the lives...

It still feels like August in the Sahara Desert outside, but summer, and with it year two of our beachside pop-up library series, SMPL at the Beach, are officially over. Over the course of five pop-ups we had 1,038 visitors, 243 attendees at Seaside Story Times, and we signed out...

Summer reading for adults is becoming a new tradition for the Library.  This year, which was only the fourth year, 524 adults signed up for the “Exercise Your Mind”-themed summer reading program and took away a nifty tote bag, exercise log book, bookmark and souvenir-quality Date Due book & program...