Clifton M. Brakensiek Community Library
Bellflower, CA 90706-5486
(562) 925-5543
The Clifton M. Brakensiek Library has served the community of Bellflower for more than 80 years. The first branch was opened on March 11, 1914. The library moved four times until its present facility was dedicated on August 16, 1975, and named in honor of Clifton M. Brakensiek, MD, who donated the land on which the library is built. It served as the Automated Circulation System pilot site and was the first County library to implement the new online circulation system in 1989. In 1915 there were 213 library cardholders and 412 books on the shelves. The circulation for 1915 was 3,433. Today's circulation is approximately 200,000 with 40,000 registered borrowers. The Library has an active Friends of the Library group.
On December 19, 2002, the Brakensiek Library reopened for service following several months of renovation. The project was a joint effort of Fourth District Supervisor Don Knabe, the City of Bellflower, The Friends of the Library and the County of Los Angeles Public Library. The remodeled library has a new look with a redesign of the interior, technology upgrades and two new public service desks.
The library is comprised of 141,177 books for adults and children, 6,491 audio recordings, 7,550 video recordings and 188 magazine and newspaper subscriptions including English and Spanish language magazines, and local and national newspapers. Special collections include the R. D. Boggs Sheet Music Collection, circulating historical American flags, and a complete set of California Deerings' Codes.
The Brakensiek Library offers a full range of services including general reference assistance, online library catalogs that provide access to the entire County Library collection and to online reference databases; public access Internet computers. Children's programs include a Homework Center for children in grades 3-6 and a Grandparents and Books program. Other available services are a Literacy Center for adults working on their personal reading and writing skills; coin-operated typewriters and photocopiers; a Friends of the Library book, DVD, and video rental collection, and a public meeting room (available on a rental basis).
Located in the Bellflower Civic Center, this 21,240 square foot building features two reference desks, a section designated for the Homework Centers with thee CD-ROM workstations, a large picture book area with child-size furniture, a magazine and newspaper reading area, a meeting room with the capacity of 95, and four locked display cases.
Library Hours
- Monday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
- Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
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