Ruth Morse
Community Library Manager
1731 W. Gardena Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90247-4726
Phone: (310) 323-6363

Gardena Mayme Dear Library is closed for refurbishment
January 22, 2008 - August 2008

History
Gardena Library was born under the sponsorship of the Wednesday Progressive Club before the Los Angeles County Free Library was founded in 1912. In 1914, Gardena Library became a branch of the new County System. Only a few months later, the library was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles City Library Board due to annexation. It was not until August 1951 that Gardena Library came back to the County System. The present 16,000 sq. ft. building was dedicated on December 5, 1964 and re-named Gardena Mayme Dear Memorial Library on May 30, 1992 in honor of the late Mrs. Mayme Dear for her many years of dedicated volunteer services to the library.

Collection
The current collection totals 161,888 volumes. It consists of 8,716 audio recordings, 8,047 video cassettes, 155 periodicals and newspapers, large print books, pamphlets, college catalogs, telephone directories (selected U. S. Cities), Japanese American internment during WWII (microfilm), Friends of the Library rental collection. Books in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese are also available.

Services
Services available to patrons are public access Internet, CD-ROM workstation, on-line public access catalog, coin-operated copiers (one with color), public meeting room (on rental basis), children's programs including weekly preschool storytimes. The library also has a Homework Center.

Facilities
The Library with an area of 16,439 square feet features an enclosed Japanese Garden designed by Takuma P. Tono, professor of landscape design at Tokyo Agriculture University. The 150-year-old stone lantern in the garden was a gift of Gardena's sister city, Ichikawa. A mosaic mural above the main entrance depicts the development of books and printing. The Library is divided into adult and children areas with a general information desk in the center.

Political Representatives

• U.S. Congressional District: 35th
  Maxine Waters
  URL: http://www.house.gov/waters/

• State Senate District: 25th
  Edward Vincent
  URL: http://dist25.casen.govoffice.com/

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

• Supervisorial District: 2nd
  Yvonne B. Burke
  URL: http://burke.lacounty.gov/

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.
	City of Gardena Municipal Code URL: http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/gardena/
	Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai URL: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/3203/ Instructional information dedicated to the advancement of the art of bonsai
	Daily Breeze URL: http://www.dailybreeze.com/ Online local and regional news articles and classified's from the South Bay Daily Breeze, a local newspaper that serves the area.
	El Camino College URL: http://www.elcamino.cc.ca.us/ Information on admissions, class schedules, community education programs, campus events, employment opportunities and more for this local community college the South Bay area.
	Gardena One-Stop Employment and Business Center URL: http://www.sbwib.org/gardHP.htm One of several South Bay career guidance centers that offers free job training, retraining/transition services for dislocated workers, assessment of transferable job skills, workshops to develop interview skills, and assistance in the preparation of a professional resume.
	The City of Gardena URL: http://www.ci.gardena.ca.us/ Information on the city including history, services, departments, elected officials, budget, city council, local news and weather.