Mission Statement

The Torrance Public Library is committed to providing materials and services in a variety of formats that satisfy the educational, informational, recreational and cultural needs of our diverse community.

The Library supports lifelong independent learning and the individual's need for current, popular and informational materials.

Torrance Public Library serves as a center for community information, services and activities.

A trained and helpful staff uses traditional and innovative methods and technologies to provide quality Library collections, efficient services, and programs in easily accessible locations throughout the community.

E-Mail the City Librarian   Paula Weiner

Library Locations, Hours and Circulation Services

In 2006, libraries will be closed:  Monday, January 2; Monday, January 16; Monday, February 13; Monday, February 20; Saturday, May 20 (Civic Center Library only); Monday, May 29; Tuesday, July 4; Monday, September 4; Friday and Saturday, November 10 and 11; Thursday through Saturday, November 23-25; Friday through Monday, December 22-25; Friday and Saturday, December 29 and 30.    

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Katy Geissert Civic Center Library

Address:	Hours:
3301 Torrance Blvd            .	Monday - Thursday 10am to 9pm
Torrance, CA  90503	Friday :10am to 6pm
Phone:	Saturday :10am to 5:30pm
310-618-5959	Sunday: Closed

 

El Retiro Branch Library

Address:	Hours:
126 Vista del Parque	Monday - Thursday:  11am to 8pm
Redondo Beach, CA 90277	Friday:  Closed
Phone:	Saturday:  10am to 5pm
310-375-0922	Sunday:  Closed

Henderson Branch Library Address: Hours: 4805 Emerald Monday - Thursday 11am to 8pm Torrance, CA 90503                               Friday:  Closed Phone: Saturday:  10am to 5pm 310-371-2075 Sunday:  Closed

North Torrance Branch Library Address: Hours 3604 Artesia Blvd. Monday - Thursday:  11am to 8pm Torrance, CA  90504                                Friday:  Closed Phone: Saturday 10am to 5pm 310-323-7200 Sunday:  Closed

Southeast Branch Library Address: Hours: 23115 South Arlington                              Monday - Thursday:  11am to 8pm Torrance, CA 90501 Friday:  Closed Phone: Saturday:  10am to 5pm 310-530-5044 Sunday:  Closed

Walteria Branch Library Address: Hours: 3815 West 242nd Street                          Monday - Thursday 11am to 8pm Torrance, CA 90505 Friday:   Closed Phone: Saturday:  10am to 5pm 310-375-8418 Sunday:  Closed

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Organization of the Collection:

The library's collection is organized by the Dewey Decimal Classification. This system uses a numbering scheme to group books according to subject area. The numbers and corresponding subject areas are:

Each item that the library owns (books, music scores, videotapes, etc.) has a label containing a three-digit number usually followed by a decimal point and some more numbers and letters. This is the item's Call Number. The first three numbers before the decimal point correspond to the subject areas listed above. A search by call number is part of the library's electronic catalog.

Circulation

The regular circulation period is three weeks from the day that the book, audio-cassette, or music CD is checked out. 7-day material such as videocassettes and DVD's are labeled (and do not renew). Vacation loans are available for six weeks. Vacation loans are not allowed on 7-day materials or on new books.   Books may be renewed one time by using the "My Account" feature in the web catalog..  If the screen asks for "User ID", that is your library card number (barcode number) and your PIN number is the last four digits of your phone number.

The following material does not circulate: Reference books, newspapers, and Adult magazines at Katy Geissert Civic Center Library.

 

Fines and Fees

Starting July 1, 2003 there will no longer be a grace period for return of library materials, due to budget constraints.  Fines begin accruing the day after the materials are due.  Also beginning July 1, 2003, Videos and DVD's overdue fine will be $1.00 per item per day, and all Juvenile materials will be 25 cents per day.

New Library Cards Library Cards are valid for three years  and can be renewed at no charge by  coming into any branch.	No charge
Temporary card (if you forget your card)	$.50
Lost/stolen/misplaced library card	$5.00
Damaged library card	No charge
Requests (owned by Torrance Public Library	Adult - $.75, Juvenile - .15
Requests (Interlibrary loan)	$5.00 -Adult and juvenile
Overdue fines	$.25/day for Adult items $1.00/day for videos and DVD's
	$.25/day for Juvenile items
Processing fee for lost items	$10.00
Photocopy and Microfiche reader printers	$.20 per page (.15 with debit card)
Printers attached to CD-ROM Workstations	$.15 per page
Color Copier (Civic Center Library Only)	$.60 per page
Typewriters	$.25 for 20 minutes
Microcomputers	$3.00 per hour
Books checked out from one branch can  be returned at any other branch.