| 1912 |
The Library was established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Celia Gleason appointed first County Librarian. |
| 1913 |
First Library headquarters set up at the Hall of Records, First community library opened at Willowbrook. Service to institutions started. |
| 1916 |
Professional library work came under Civil Service Regulations. |
| 1921 |
Library headquarters moved to Hall of Records Annex. First transportation equipment purchased. |
| 1923 |
First community library opened in a County-owned building (Lancaster). |
| 1926 |
Library school training required of librarians. Newmark Method of circulation replaced the Browne Pocket Charging System. First comprehensive library procedures manual. Books and Notes founded (published through 1955). First monthly staff meetings. |
| 1927 |
First Reorganization (divisions created). Staff Association founded. First children's librarian appointed. |
| 1928 |
St. Francis Dam burst, destroying two branches and drowning many patrons. |
| 1929 |
First "regional operation" set up, with Lancaster as the sub-center for outlets in the Antelope Valley. "Property Man" appointed to head facilities division. |
| 1931 |
Summer Reading Program started. |
| 1932 |
Name changed from "Free Library" to "Public Library." Five-day, forty-hour work week established. Seven-year fiscal crisis began due to the Depression. |
| 1933 |
Earthquake destroyed one branch and damaged others. |
| 1934 |
Detroit Self-Charging System replaced the Newmark Method. Circulation
reached the highest point it would attain for the next eighteen years. |
| 1935 |
First County Library Advisory Committee organized. Staff Newsreel began publication (through 1939). |
| 1936 |
Weekly truck express established to eighty-five libraries. |
| 1937 |
25th Anniversary. Library headquarters moved to 322 South Broadway. |
| 1940 |
The Messenger published (through 1943). Five-step salary schedule adopted. |
| 1941 |
First Personnel Assistant appointed. |
| 1942 |
Library Book Breakfast began. |
| 1943 |
Pioneering "Classification and Pay Plan." |
| 1946 |
Division of Work with Schools transferred to the Office of County Superintendent of Schools. |
| 1947 |
News Letter of the Los Angeles County Public Library began publication (1947-63). |
| 1948 |
Signature charging method adopted. Second County-owned library building opened (Lennox). |
| 1949 |
Bookmobile service began. |
| 1950 |
First ten-year building program adopted. |
| 1951 |
Torrance and Lennox joined Lancaster as "regional operations" (Bellflower became the fourth in 1953). |
| 1952 |
First book catalog (a children's catalog). Reference course for paraprofessionals started. |
| 1955 |
First "master" book catalog. |
| 1956 |
Bookstock reached one million volumes. |
| 1957 |
Second Reorganization (regionalization). Library's tax rate limitation increased from ten to thirty cents. Accumulated Capital Outlay Fund created. First Friends of the Library group founded (at Claremont). |
| 1959 |
Regional Library Councils organized. |
| 1961 |
First Regional Headquarters Library dedicated (West Covina). |
| 1962 |
Fiftieth Anniversary. Library headquarters moved to the new Hall of Records, 320 West Temple Street. |
| 1963 |
Bookstock reached two million volumes. Progress (1963-78) replaced the News Letter as the Library's news organ. Librarians and Library Assistants voted to join Los Angeles County Employees Association. |
| 1964 |
Library received first Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) funds. |
| 1966 |
Government publications program began at depository libraries. |
| 1968 |
The "Way Out" Project (first service-to-the-underserved grant). |
| 1970 |
Vesta Bruner Scholarship Fund established. First union contract negotiated. |
| 1971 |
Fiscal crisis caused by legislative tax freeze. Earthquake did little damage. |
| 1972 |
Library Affirmative Action Committee formed. |
| 1975 |
"Access Study" started revolution in the Library's access system, beginning with the first COM (Computer-Output-Microform) catalog the following year. |
| 1976 |
Third Reorganization (consolidation). Books-by Mail service began. |
| 1977 |
"Planning Institute" held. PRR (Personnel Resources Report) formulated first Library Activity Index of community library usage. |
| 1978 |
Fiscal crisis caused by Jarvis Initiative. Language Learning Centers established. South State Cooperative Library System created. |
| 1979 |
"On-Line" ordering system introduced. CALL founded. |
| 1982 |
Bookstock reached five million volumes. Library Foundation established. |
| 1983 |
Library headquarters moved to Downey (the first designed specifically for the needs of the Library!). "Plan-of-Service" Goals initiated at the libraries. L.A. Co-op founded. Los Angeles County Public Library Newsletter (1983- ) began publication. |
| 1985 |
Working Groups formed to plan for Automated Circulation System. Update (1985- ) established for internal staff communication. |
| 1986 |
First Compact Disk (CD ROM) catalog. Training budget first assigned to each Region. |
| 1987 |
Fourth Reorganization (span-of-control streamlined). Circulation topped twelve million annually. "Strategic Planning" initiated. User survey showed 95% satisfaction rate. Seventy-Fifth Anniversary. |
