Programs & Impact
Learn about our programs and impact in the community.
Our impact
$750,000
Lifetime grants to the Hermosa Beach Public Library
66 years of investment in collections, technology, supplies, facilities, and programs.
100,000+
Books, CDs, DVDs, and more donated by our community each year
Received, processed, and curated by our dedicated team of volunteers - converting community generosity into impact
80+
Programs funded at the Hermosa Beach Public Library since 2024
Expanding our Hermosa Beach Public Library’s ability to provide a wide range of programs tailored to all ages
32
Little Free Libraries in Hermosa Beach
Grown from just 14 at the start of 2024 - with a goal of 125 by our city’s 125th Anniversary (2032)!
700+
Community members donating their books to support our programs
Our programs are supported by dozens of donations each week, ranging from a few spare books to hundreds of treasures
2,000+
Community members attending HBFoL-funded Library programs (2024-25)
New and expanded programs including arts and crafts, music, education, and fun for children, teens, and adults.
What We Support
HBFoL funds and supports a wide range of programs, from direct library support to community book redistribution, neighborhood Little Free Libraries, and a growing event series, to strengthen the literary and cultural fabric of Hermosa Beach and the surrounding communities.
Hermosa Beach Public Library Support
Funding community programs and needs beyond the County budget
Our Program
County library funding covers a wide range of collections, programs, and services that support our Hermosa Beach Public Library and our community. HBFoL expands our Library’s capacity, funding additional programs, new book acquisitions, important supplies, and special initiatives that allow our local Library to tailor its services and offerings to our local community.
What We Fund
Programs: 80+ Library programs and events funded 2024-25, with over 2,000 members of the Hermosa Beach and surrounding communities attending. HBFoL funds help our Library expand offerings for young learners and children, while supporting 100% of programs for teens and adults.
Books: Our librarians select over 400 books annually to purchase using HBFoL funds, including titles hand-selected to meet our community’s needs and wants - including books in high demand, and special selections suited to Hermosa Beach.
Periodicals: HBFoL funds newspaper and magazine subscriptions available for free at the Hermosa Beach Public Library, making news, information, and entertainment accessible to our entire community.
$50,000+
Granted to Hermosa Beach Public Library in 2024-25
Book READCycle
Helping every book find a reader
Our Program
HBFoL receives hundreds of books, magazines, and other media and reading materials donated by our community each week. Many of these books would be otherwise destined for landfills. Meanwhile, schools, teachers, and nonprofits across the South Bay do not have the robust libraries they need to produce education, enrichment, and opportunities for growth and learning for the communities they serve.
Book READCycle gives donated books a meaningful second life. Our team processes thousands of books each month for re-donation to trusted community partners, including individual teachers, under-resourced classrooms, and nonprofits serving both children and adults across south Los Angeles County.
Book READCycle recipients include:
Local schools and teachers, particularly in under-resourced areas
Organizations supporting under-resourced members of our community, including individuals experiencing homelessness, justice-involvement, and physical and mental disabilities
Service organizations providing opportunities for impoverished individuals to improve their lives
Organizations serving elderly members of our community
Interested in receiving book donations as a READCycle partner? Email readcycle@hbfol.org!
30,000+
Books donated to READCycle partners in 2024-25
Little Free Libraries
Spreading literacy and community across every neighborhood
Our Program
Little Free Libraries - part of a movement of more than 200,000 installations worldwide - have been shown to not only increase access to reading materials, but to increase the interest children show in reading, help neighbors meet and get to know one another, and foster more tightly-knit and friendlier communities.
HBFoL is building a network of Little Free Libraries across Hermosa Beach - neighborhood book exchanges where anyone can take a book or leave a book, anytime.
We install Little Free Libraries (with the support of our sponsors) and provide books from our bookstore as a resource to Little Free Library stewards to ensure each location is stocked, maintained, and remains a source of joy and excitement for our community.
How We Support Little Free Libraries
Installation: With the support of our sponsors and partners throughout the community, HBFoL identifies potential Little Free Library sites across our community, and coordinates installation of hand-painted Little Free Libraries. For individuals who prefer to install their own Library, we help them understand how to be a Steward.
Stocking: Our dedicated team makes hundreds of low-cost books available to Library Stewards each week, ensuring every Little Free Library in Hermosa Beach is regularly filled with fresh, interesting reads.
Promotion: We teach our community about the benefits of having a Little Free Library - including happier, friendlier neighbors, smarter and more literate children, and the fun and satisfaction of helping make Hermosa Beach a better place for all. We encourage our entire community to learn about Little Free Libraries toward our ambitious goal: 125 Little Free Libraries in Hermosa Beach by 2032, our city’s 125th Anniversary!
Want to learn more about Little Free Libraries, or sponsor a Little Free Library installation? Ask a member of our bookstore team or email littlefreelibrary@hbfol.org!
32
125
Little Free Libraries in Hermosa Beach by late 2025
More than double the number in early 2024! (14)
Our goal for Little Free Library installations by 2032
Archives & Preservation
Preserving Hermosa Beach’s story
Our Program
We preserve Hermosa Beach’s literary heritage through digitization, conservation, and archival efforts. Our team preserves, stores, and displays treasured family collections, and supports the restoration of particularly special pieces.
Our Digital Archive Project is cataloging 66 years of our community’s literary and Library history through the records of the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library, including newsletters, photographs, and organizational records - creating a permanent public resource.
Event Series (Author Series)
Bringing Literary Voices to Our Community
Our Program
Great writing connects us to ideas, experiences, and perspectives beyond our own. HBFoL’s Author Series - launched in 2025, and continuing in 2026 - brings regional literary talent together with our community for readings, conversations, and community connection.
These events - including an ongoing series hosted with the Hermosa Beach Museum - connects local readers with authors and ideas that inspire them.
