Friends of the Long Beach Public Library

Friends of the Long Beach Public Library We promote, provide support, and advocate for our Billie Jean King Main Library and eleven branches. We are an all-volunteer, non profit 501(c)(3) organization.

We work to preserve the library as a place of intellectual freedom and to guard against censorship. We advocate for a strong public library system by keeping informed and acting on current issues that affect our library. Membership dues and donations provide materials, support summer reading programs, provide cultural and literary events for community, and fund training for library staff. Our board meets monthly to conduct the business of the Friends.

04/29/2026

Huntington Beach suffered another courtroom loss in its culture war battles this week when a judge ordered the city to pay $1 million in legal fees for restricting minors’ access to library books.

The City Council passed a resolution in 2023 prohibiting children from accessing books deemed to contain sexual content in the city's public libraries.

Critics said the policy amounted to illegal censorship, and that it was actually an excuse to restrict books with LGBTQ characters and themes.

In September 2025, Orange County Judge Lindsey Martinez found the policy violated California’s newly passed Freedom to Read Act.

🔗 Read more at the link in the comments.

✍️ Jill Replogle
📸 Jill Replogle/LAist

One Book, One Coast is a shared community reading program that celebrates literacy, learning, community, and civil disco...
04/10/2026

One Book, One Coast is a shared community reading program that celebrates literacy, learning, community, and civil discourse. All participating libraries will read and discuss They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger and illustrated by Harmony Becker. Physical copies of the book will be available to borrow as early as March 1 and unlimited digital copies of the eBook will be available from April 1 through June 6.

A new program dubbed “the largest book club on the West Coast” is uniting libraries to explore an often erased chapter of the region.

03/20/2026

These new must-read mysteries are ripe with revenge; discover how authors like Jose Ando, Caroline Glenn and Leodora Darlington craft their books to keep readers hooked.

03/19/2026
03/19/2026

Tune for a special presentation hosted by the Long Beach Public Library! On March 7, 2026, Harold Ray Brown, founding member of the band War, sat down with ...

03/17/2026

Have you called your House Rep to yet? We know calling your elected officials can be intimidating - that's why we've made the process quick and simple. Head to ala.org/showup and urge Congress to support library funding in next year's federal budget!

03/17/2026

Here’s your earlier-than-usual reminder that all LBPL locations are cooling centers! During our open hours, swing by your nearest neighborhood library to take advantage of our air conditioning, books, media, computers, wifi, bathrooms, and fresh water.

https://www.longbeach.gov/library/visit/cooling-centers/

03/13/2026

Long Beach City is making improvements to the outdoor terrace at the Billie Jean King Main Library to enhance its usability and create a safer, more welcoming space for the whole community that reflects the terrace’s original intended purpose of being a vibrant hub for programming and activities. Construction will begin Monday, March 16. The library will remain open during the construction period.

The refreshed terrace will provide a more functional, secure, and accessible setting for community programming such as:
• Book sales
• Crafts
• Games
• Lunch programs
• Family-friendly events

For more information about the project or programming, visit longbeach.gov/library or call (562) 570-7500.

03/10/2026

The Return-On-Investment from Your Public Library is Unbelievable!

03/10/2026

Address

PO Box 15733
Long Beach, CA
90815

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