Judy Weigel
Acting Community Library Manager
150 E. El Segundo Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90061-2356
Phone: (310) 538-3350

Please call the library
for Black Resource Center hours.

For residents of the unincorporated areas, please contact your Supervisor for all matters of local government.

History
Located in a shopping center from 1964 to 1974, the North Enterprise Branch became the A C Bilbrew Library with the opening of the present building on November 2, 1974. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn was instrumental in the library obtaining funding through a Model Neighborhood Development Program to build a 21,000 square foot library with a capacity to house 100,000 books. The library was designed by Vincent Proby, an African-American architect and is named for Madame A C Bilbrew, a community leader and former deputy for Supervisor Hahn who was also a musician and poet. In 1933, Mrs. Bilbrew was the first black soloist to appear on radio, and in 1928, she produced the first Negro chorus that was featured in Hollywood's first Negro talkie, titled "Hearts in Dixie". She was the first black to have a radio show. Mrs. Bilbrew was also a producer of pageants and dramas, an outstanding dramatic reader, and choral director. The A C Bilbrew library houses the Black Resource Center which supports research and study on social, historical, musical, and cultural aspects unique to the "Black Experience" such as Juneteenth and Kwanzaa. Since 1980, the A C Bilbrew library has hosted the County Library's African American History Month Celebration. The "Living Black History Tribute" first honoree was Eubie Blake. This became the "African-American Living Legend" Series. Past Honorees have included: Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, Coretta Scott King, and Ray Charles. The library is located in an unincorporated area west of the City of Compton.

Collection
The current book collection totals 90,417 volumes, 100 magazine and newspaper subscriptions, 9,604 audio-visual items (audiocassettes, CDS, records & videos); and other special materials such as pamphlets, college catalogs, telephone directories, and microforms. This includes the Black Resource Center collection which has books, microforms, newspapers and magazines and reference files.

Services
Services available to the public include Reference Services; Internet computers and WiFi; programs for children, teens and adults; Homework Center with computers; Teen Area with computers; black and white photocopiers; conference room; public meeting room (available on a rental basis); and Friends of the Library Video Rental Collection.

Facilities
The library, with an area of 21,000 square feet, is wheelchair accessible and features the following major areas: an adult reading area; enclosed adult quiet study room; a separate area for the Black Resource Center Collection; children's area; children's activity room with a landscaped outdoor patio; a meeting room with a capacity for 168. The foyer features a special stained glass abstract design. The wood sculptures on display are by Emile Jordan.

Political Representatives

• U.S. Congressional District: 37th
  Laura Richardson
  URL: http://richardson.house.gov/

• State Senate District: 25th
  Rod Wright
  URL: http://dist25.casen.govoffice.com/

• State Assembly District: 51st
  Steve Bradford
  URL: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a51/

• Supervisorial District: 2nd
  Mark Ridley-Thomas
  URL: http://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/default.htm

Local Links

	California State University Dominguez Hills URL: http://www.csudh.edu/ This site offers class schedules, admission information, distance learning and other useful information about the California University System.
	Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science URL: http://www.cdrewu.edu/ Includes admissions, financial aid, library, campus news and events, College of Allied Health and College of Medicine
	Los Angeles Southwest College URL: http://www.lasc.cc.ca.us/ Information about local community college serving the area.
	Martin Luther King/Charles R. Drew Medical Center URL: http://www.ladhs.org/wps/portal/KingHomepage History, executive and medical staff, and links to Los Angeles Department of Health Services. Also, includes list of local health clinics.
	The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia URL: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=613 Tours, history, location and general description of the Watts Towers.