History
The Clifton M. Brakensiek Library has served the community of Bellflower for more than 80 years. The first branch was opened on March 11, 1914. The library moved four times until its present facility was dedicated on August 16, 1975, and named in honor of Clifton M. Brakensiek, MD, who donated the land on which the library is built. It served as the Automated Circulation System pilot site and was the first County library to implement the new online circulation system in 1989. In 1915 there were 213 library cardholders and 412 books on the shelves. The circulation for 1915 was 3,433. Today's circulation is approximately 200,000 with 40,000 registered borrowers. The Library has an active Friends of the Library group.

On December 19, 2002, the Brakensiek Library reopened for service following several months of renovation. The project was a joint effort of Fourth District Supervisor Don Knabe, the City of Bellflower, The Friends of the Library and the County of Los Angeles Public Library. The remodeled library has a new look with a redesign of the interior, technology upgrades and two new public service desks.

Collection
The library is comprised of 141,177 books for adults and children, 6,491 audio recordings, 7,550 video recordings and 188 magazine and newspaper subscriptions including English and Spanish language magazines, and local and national newspapers. Special collections include the R. D. Boggs Sheet Music Collection, circulating historical American flags, and a complete set of California Deerings' Codes.

Services
The Brakensiek Library offers a full range of services including general reference assistance, online library catalogs that provide access to the entire County Library collection and to online reference databases; public access Internet computers. Children's programs include a Homework Center for children in grades 3-6 and a Grandparents and Books program. Other available services are: a Literacy Center for adults working on their personal reading and writing skills; coin-operated typewriters and photocopiers; a Friends of the Library book, DVD and video rental collection and a public meeting room (available on a rental basis).

Facilities
Located in the Bellflower Civic Center, this 21,240 square foot building features two reference desks, a section designated for the Homework Centers with 3 CD-ROM workstations, a large picture book area with child-size furniture, a magazine and newspaper reading area, a meeting room with capacity of 95, and 4 locked display cases.

Political Representatives

• U.S. Congressional District: 34th
  Lucille Roybal-Allard
  URL: http://www.house.gov/roybal-allard/

• State Senate District: 27th
  Alan Lowenthal
  URL: http://dist27.casen.govoffice.com/

• State Assembly District: 50th
  Hector De La Torre
  URL: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a50/

• Supervisorial District: 4th
  Don Knabe
  URL: http://knabe.com/

Local Links

	City of Bellflower Municipal Code URL: http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/bellflower/
	City of Bellflower Web Site URL: http://www.bellflower.org Provides information about the City of Bellflower.
	Cerritos College URL: http://www.cerritos.edu General information on Cerritos College that serves the city of Bellflower.
	Bellflower Unified School District URL: http://www.busd.k12.ca.us Links to schools and educational resources.
	Press Telegram URL: http://www.presstelegram.com Online news and information service of local newspaper, the Long Beach Press Telegram.

Revised 09/06