A C Bilbrew Library

• Building size: 21843 sq. ft.
• Meeting Room: Capacity 113
• Children's area with Family Place
• Teen Space
• Book Drop for returning items accessible 24 hours

nearby libraries

• Gardena Mayme Dear Library
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library
• Woodcrest Library
• Compton Library
• Willowbrook Library

getting here

• Los Angeles Metro:
  
  Metro Local Service Line 45
  Need more info? Try the Metro Trip Planner
• Local Transit:
  
  Gardena Bus Line 5
  
• Large parking lot available behind the building.

• Black Resource Center
• Non-English Language Collection(s):
  
  Spanish Books for Kids
  Spanish Books for Adults
  Spanish DVDs for Kids and Adults
  
• Children's Special Collection(s):
  
  Read and Play Storytime Kits
  Family Place Collection
  
• Online Collections - Available 24 hours:
  
  Online research
  Downloadable Audiobooks from OneClick Digital
  Downloadable eBooks and Audiobooks from Overdrive
  Downloadable Music from Freegal
  

your local papers

• Los Angeles Times
• The Compton Bulletin
• LA Watts Times
• Los Angeles Sentinel (2007-present)
• Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005)
• Our Weekly
• Los Angeles Wave

Find more magazines and newspapers.

• Black Resource Center
• In person and telephone research assistance
• Photocopier
• Librarian available for one-on-one computer or research help by appointment.

children's services

• Live Homework Help
• Homework Center
• Family Place
• Storytime Kits

teen services

• Teen Advisory Board
• Live Homework Help
• LearningExpress Library (username = 13-digit library card number, password = create your own)

online services

• Email a Librarian
• Online Catalog
• Research Databases
• Downloadable Audiobooks, eBooks and Music

A C Bilbrew Library has:

• Public computers: 11
• Children's computers: 4
• Early literacy computers: 2
• Teen computers: 3
• Express computers (15 minutes only): 1
• Free Wi-fi

Computer policies for the County Library

Librarian available for one-on-one computer or research help by appointment.

friends of the library

Friends of the AC Bilbrew Library is a volunteer-run organization that supports the library and library events - join today to get involved!

Friends of the AC Bilbrew Library provides these service(s) to support the library:

• Friends of the Library DVD Rentals
• Friends of the Library Book Sale

library history

Willowbrook

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.

political representatives

• U.S. Congressional District 37: Laura Richardson
• California State Senate District 25: Rod Wright
• California State Assembly District 51: Steve Bradford
• County Supervisorial District 2: Mark Ridley-Thomas

local links

• California State University Dominguez Hills: 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: Includes admissions, financial aid, library, campus news and events, College of Allied Health and College of Medicine
• Los Angeles Southwest College: Information about local community college serving the area.
• Martin Luther King/Charles R. Drew Medical Center: 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: Tours, history, location and general description of the Watts Towers.

 Find more local links on delicious.