Redondo Beach Public Library

There wasn’t much celebrating on the great ranchos of the South Bay while the rest of the country honored the nation’s Centennial in 1876, but in downtown Los Angeles a 40-foot-tall pillar, crowned with a Liberty Cap, was erected in front of the Pico House on Main Street. One side of the pillar had a positive message looking back on the Great War that had recently divided the new country: “No North, no South, no East, no West. A Fourth of July for all.” Another side of the Pillar attempted a gaze into the distant future: “1776. 1876. Now 1976.”

It’s easier for us to look back fifty years than it was for our ancestors to look forward one hundred, and today we know 1976 Redondo Beach celebrated the Bicentennial with patriotic music and fireworks at King Harbor. This coming Saturday will also feature city sponsored fireworks at the Harbor, but please remember: all private fireworks are prohibited with Redondo Beach City limits. (Liberty Cap from Wikimedia Commons via JSTOR Daily)

We would like to invite the entire family to a very special storytime with the Redondo Beach Fire Department! Join us in the Storytime room at the Main Library today, July 2nd, from 3:00pm to 3:30pm. Listen to some stories and learn about how firefighters serve our community!

All ages are welcome to join us for our Tea and Color program on July 1 at the Main Library at 2:00pm. There will be tea to drink and patriotic pages to color in honor of America's 250th birthday. It is fun for everybody.

Aerial photographs show the coast at Redondo from 1971, on the left, with the Topaz Jetty in place, and from 1955, on the right, before the jetty was built.

Newspaper articles from the late 1960s explain how sand moving north of Topaz was depleting the beaches to the south and building up at the municipal pier. According to one story from 1967, the issue was being discussed, but it was thought a protective jetty might not be needed. By 1969, however, the flow of sand had increased significantly and alarmed city councilmen “approved an emergency resolution calling for immediate priority for the work.”

An article from the May 3, 1970 “Los Angeles Times” describes how the Army Corps of Engineers were busy constructing the 600-foot protective jetty at the base of Topaz Street, shown doing its work in the photo below. (Top photos from the Redondo Beach Public Library Collection. Bottom photo from Google Earth.)

It's time to start planning on attending some great programs in July at the Redondo Beach Library.
All programs are free, but many require registration. Check the calendar of events at https://library.redondo.org

CELEBRATIONS

THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM IS FOR EVERYONE – Children, Teens and Adults.
Sign up for the Summer Reading Program “Plant A Seed, Read.”

There are programs for children, teens and adults.
The Summer Reading Program is generously funded by The Friends of the Redondo Beach Public Library.

Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday - The 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.- America’s 250th Birthday (Semiquincentennial

Programs - July

Tea and Color @ Main Library
July 1 at 2:00pm-3:00pm
Storytime Room
In celebration of America 250, join us for a relaxing afternoon where children, teens and adults can unwind, enjoy some tea and coloring.
This program is generously funded by the Friends of the Redondo Beach Library in recognition of America’s Semiquincentennial.

Library Closed for Independence Day – July 4

Music Together @ Main Library
July 6 at 11:30am-Noon
Main Library – Meeting Room – Floor 2

Children’s Craft @ Main Library
July 7 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Lego Club @ North Branch Library
July 9 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

Monthly Movie Friday @ Main Library
July 10 at 3:00pm-5:00pm
Storytime Room - “Goat”

Poetry Workshop @ Main Library
July 11 at 10:30am-12:00pm
Main Library 2nd floor Conference Room
Join other poets for inspiration and collaboration.

Game Day @ Main Library
July 11 at 11:00am-Noon
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Stitch & Sew Redondo @ North Branch Library
July 11 at 11:00am-2:00pm (NOTE SPECIAL DATE)
North Branch Meeting Room – Limit of 30 individuals
Sew, practice or work on a project with fellow sewing enthusiasts. This is a great opportunity for people who sew, wish to practice, or want to work on a project with fellow sewing enthusiasts.
Meetups are on the first Saturday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Sewing Machines and other materials are not provided. Participants are encouraged to bring items or projects that they are currently working on to the program for tips or pointers. All skill levels are represented in our group.

Lego Club @ Main Library
July 13 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Adult Book Discussion of the Month – Virtual on Zoom
July 14 at 6:30pm-7:30pm
Virtual Program via Zoom.
The discussion is led by Librarian, Amy Feller. We are reading:
Day by Michael Cunningham
Free, but registration is required. Sign up at https://library.redondo.org
Click on events calendar; click on program date – Book Discussion; click on “more info” to sign up.

Children’s Craft @ North Branch Library
July 16 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Meeting Room

Matter Matters – Exploring Materials Science Workshop @ Main Library
July 18 at 1:00pm-2:00pm
Elementary age students learn about science and exploring materials. The are different station that introduce the basics of materials science through hands-on activities. Explore everyday materias, learn about sustainability and discover how science connect us to the world.
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Lego Club @ Main Library
July 20 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room

Teen Program – Movie and Ice Cream Party @ Main Library
July 21 at 4:00-6:00pm
For grades 6th-12th
Main Library 2nd Floor Meeting Room

Teen Program – Movie and Ice Cream Party @ North Branch Library
July 23 at 4:00-6:00pm
For grades 6th-12th
North Branch Meeting Room

Poetry Apocalypse Readings @ Main Library
July 25 at 1:00pm-3:30pm
Main Library 2nd floor Meeting Room
A South Bay poetry group that has attracted International attention will be reading from their newly released book “Quantum Entanglement.” The poetry is a tribute to how diverse voices relate to each other and the human heart.

Shelf Care North Branch Library Book Discussion of the Month – “In-Person”
@ North Branch Library
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
July 27 at 11:15am-12:15pm
In-Person Book Club on the 4th Monday of the Month unless otherwise noted.
Read the book and talk about it, or just join us to learn more about the book. The coffee served is generously funded by The Friends of the Redondo Beach Library.

REGULAR STORYTIMES – July
Go to: https://library.redondo.org
then click on the Calendar of Events for up-to-date information on Children’s storytimes as program times/dates may change.

Walkers and Talkers Storytime (1-5 year olds with caregiver) @ Main Library
Wednesdays on7/1; 7/8; 7/15; 7/22 & 7/29 at Noon-12:30pm
Main Library Storytime Room

Baby Lapsit (0 to 18 months with caregiver) @ Main Library
Thursdays, 7/2; 7/9; 7/16; 7/23 & 7/30 at 11:15am-11:45am
Main Library Storytime Room
Babies 0-18 months and their caregivers join in a fun storytime full of songs, rhymes and fingerplays!

All Ages Afternoon Storytime @ North Branch Library
Tuesdays on 7/7; 7/14; 7/21 & 7/28 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

SPECIAL STORYTIMES, BLOCKS & MUSIC PROGRAMS

Dos Idiomas Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library
7/1; 7/8; 7/15; 7/22 & 7/29 at 4:15pm-4:45pm
Storytime Room

Redondo Beach Fire Department Storytime @ Main Library
July 2 at 3:00pm-3:30pm
Storytime Room

Music Together @ Main Library
July 6 at 11:30am-Noon
Meeting Room – Floor 2

Rainbow Storytime @ Main Library
July 7 at 11:30am-Noon
Storytime Room

Waku Waku Storytime @ Main Library
July 13 & July 20 at 4:00pm-4:30pm
Storytime Room

Music and Movement with Dance 1 @ North Branch Library
July 13 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

Bilingual Storytime with NIHAO Chinese School @ North Branch Library
July 20 at 3:30pm-4:00pm
North Branch Library Meeting Room

Special Storytime with Officer Kyle @ Main Library
July 27 at 2:00pm-2:30pm
Storytime Room

L.A. King’s Bailey and the Ice Crew Storytime @ Main Library
July 31 at 1:00pm-1:30pm
Meeting Room – Floor 2

Please check the Library’s printed calendar, website calendar, and page for future events. Library events are also listed in the City newsletter and you can sign up for monthly emailed notices on our homepage through LibraryAware.

Redondo Beach Main Library - 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Telephone: 310 318-0675
Redondo Beach North Branch Library - 2000 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. Telephone: 310 318-0677
For more information on Library programs and services, please call
(310) 318-0675.
The Redondo Beach Public Library is now on facebook. Follow us at:
https://www.facebook.com/RedondoBeachLibrary/
For updated information visit our website at https://library.redondo.org

Today is the day! The Summer Reading Program and Kick-Off & Juneteenth Celebration Carnival is here!

The Redondo Beach Public Library and City of Redondo Beach invites everyone to join us today for free games and prizes!

Sign up for the Summer Reading Program and enjoy an afternoon of community fun!

📅 Saturday, June 13
⏰ 12 PM – 3 PM
📍 Redondo Beach City Hall & Main Library