Blog

Peninsula Transportation and the Pacific Electric Railway

February 1, 2019
Train enthusiasts may recall the “Red Car,” the Pacific Electric Railway system that covered the Los Angeles region with more than 1,000 miles of rail lines in the early 1900s. By 1914, there were more than 1,600 trains criss-crossing and connecting communities in Los Angeles County daily. In 1904, Pacific Electric reportedly considered extending the San Pedro line “to run... Read more

Local History: Goodbye November, a month of reflection and appreciation

November 29, 2018
By Dennis Piotrowski and Monique Sugimoto Contributing writers November is a month with two important holidays, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, in which we reflect upon and honor our service members and appreciate the goodness, abundance and history of our nation. Along with Memorial Day earlier in the year, paying tribute to our military is a duty that communities and local... Read more

PVLDWriMo: Writing Month 2018

October 4, 2018
It's that time of year again! Join us for weekly events in November to inspire writing. PVLD Writing Month (PVLDWriMo) registration starts October 8th and closes Wednesday, October 31, 2018. Please review the Rules for Participation and download the flyer below. Questions? Contact Deb Ripley (310) 377-9584 ext. 217. Rules for Participation Pick up an information packet from any PVLD... Read more

Frankenfest: Frankenstein Turns 200

September 12, 2018
Mary Shelley’s monstrous classic, Frankenstein, was published 200 years ago this year. In celebration of her work, which started the science fiction literature genre, PVLD is hosting a series of events to celebrate the original work and the works it has since inspired. From book discussions delving into the deeper themes of the book, and a film screening of the... Read more

Wedding Fair at the Malaga Cove Library

August 31, 2018
Did you know the Malaga Cove Library can be booked as a wedding venue? To showcase this hidden jewel, Malaga Cove Library is hosting a Wedding Fair on Sunday, September, 30, 2018 from 12 PM - 5 PM in the library gallery, 2400 Via Campesina, PVE. This unique fair will present vendor vignettes highlighting experiences rather than sales. Vendor examples... Read more

Palos Verdes Library Revamps Borrowing Policies

August 14, 2018
PALOS VERDES LIBRARY REVAMPS BORROWING POLICIES Fines for Overdue Children’s Materials to be Eliminated The Palos Verdes Library District (PVLD) has revamped its borrowing policies for adult and children’s materials, resulting in extended loan periods for some items and reduced or eliminated charges for others. Most significant is the suspension of all overdue fines on children’s books, CDs, DVDs and... Read more

Bringing Stories in the Local History Center to Life

June 4, 2018
By Monique Sugimoto and Dennis Piotrowski Photographs tell a visual story on their own. When paired with the recorded experiences, memories and reflections of community members from days gone by, the story becomes even richer and more vivid. A small photograph collection of a Peninsula shepherd and the oral history interview of former Rolling Hills resident Gordon Shultz, recorded in... Read more

Kanopy Adds Children's Content to Catalog with Kanopy Kids

May 8, 2018
Hey parents, we’ve got a brand-new source of educational and entertaining children’s programming—free to watch! PVLD and Kanopy have partnered to bring you Kanopy Kids, featuring hundreds of enriching videos available to stream whenever you want. Kanopy has partnered with Common Sense Media™ to provide developmentally appropriate age ratings to help you decide what to watch. Visit Kanopy.com to start... Read more

Young Readers Section at Peninsula Center is getting a makeover

April 26, 2018
PVLD has been making exciting changes to the YR section of the Peninsula Center Library. This popular area of the library hosts 9 storytimes a week, many visits from schools, and lots of afterschool and weekend traffic. We’re working on expanding the area and adding whimsy and color to make this an even better destination for kids, parents and caregivers... Read more

Palos Verdes has always been Reagan Country

March 29, 2018
By MONIQUE SUGIMOTO and DENNIS PIOTROWSKI Richard Nixon wasn’t the only former president with long-standing ties to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. In this installment, we focus on former president Ronald Wilson Reagan whose ties to the area date from the Great Depression. Reagan first visited Southern California in the mid-1930s. According to his autobiography, he wanted to escape the “frigid... Read more

Passport Volunteers need at the Peninsula Center Library

February 21, 2018
We have immediate openings in our Administration Department for passport volunteers. Passport Photo & Traffic control This position is definitely for those who are outgoing and enjoy working with the public. You'll be taking and processing passport photos (with a great digital camera/printing system) for patrons upon request. You will also be making copies as needed and directing traffic in... Read more

African American American History Comes to life!

February 2, 2018
Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other heroes inspire kids and adults at the Living History Museum of African American Heroes! The Living History Museum is an annual event at the library, taking place each February in partnership with PV Links, Delta Sigma Theta, the Black Heritage Association and Jack and Jill of America. Participation in the... Read more

Romayne Martin: Building a Cultured Community

November 30, 2017
By MONIQUE SUGIMOTO and DENNIS PIOTROWSKI At the first Palos Verdes Community Dinner in 1926, Frank Vanderlip, considered the father of Palos Verdes, emphasized the importance of building a cultured community. Romayne Martin (1889-1991), one of the Peninsula’s earliest residents, had a large part in shaping this vibrant local culture. This included two of its oldest and most treasured institutions:... Read more

Hoopla at the library!

October 30, 2017
PVLD is excited to announce the public availability of thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks, all available for mobile and online access through a new partnership with hoopla digital – all you need is a valid library card! Card holders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or IOS device or visit hoopladigital.com... Read more

Kanopy film streaming is now available at the library

September 20, 2017
If you're interested in independent, foreign language, classic, or documentary films, you're in luck! Get out your library card and sign up for Kanopy, the Library's newest on demand video streaming service. You can stream over 26,000 carefully selected films from hundreds of popular producers such as The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, and PBS, as well as thousands of... Read more

Local History: An airport almost takes off in Palos Verdes

August 31, 2017
By Dennis Piotrowski and Monique Sugimoto In a previous column, we recounted one of the first flights over the Palos Verdes Peninsula by famed French aviator Louis Paulhan in 1910. Our next episode takes us into the 1920s and a time when rapid advances occurred in airmail delivery service, the use of private planes expanded, and passenger airline service began... Read more

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

August 29, 2017
As part of the Palos Verdes Library District’s commitment to celebrating diversity, we are hosting a series of fun family events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th – October 15th, and honors the stories, cultures, and contributions of those of Central and South American, Mexican, Spanish, and Caribbean ancestry. President Lyndon B. Johnson first... Read more

Changes coming to the Peninsula Center Storytime Room!

August 10, 2017
The busiest room in the Young Readers Department is getting a make-over starting Tuesday Aug. 15! The changes will make the room larger, brighter, and more accessible to patrons of all ages and abilities. The storytime room has been always been a special place for children, parents and caregivers. With nearly 20,000 children and adults attending storytime each year, the... Read more

Community Conversations

July 10, 2017
Please join us for a community conversation! Add your voice to an engaging and informal “round table” discussion hosted by the Palos Verdes Library. Come and speak honestly and freely about your aspirations, concerns and personal views about our community. Date: Friday, August 4, 2017 Location: Peninsula Center Library Purcell Room Three sessions available: 10:30 am 1:00 pm 3:00 pm... Read more

Local History: Selling the Palos Verdes dream a natural pitch

June 30, 2017
Frank Vanderlip’s purchase of the Palos Verdes Peninsula “sight unseen” in 1913 was an extraordinary occurrence. So too were the campaigns to finance the construction and advertise the “most beautiful and desirable residential area” in Southern California. In 1921, E.G. Lewis, the man behind the development of Atascadero and University City in Missouri, devised an underwriting scheme and promotional campaign... Read more

Selling the Palos Verdes dream a natural pitch

June 29, 2017
By Monique Sugimoto and Dennis Piotrowski Frank Vanderlip’s purchase of the Palos Verdes Peninsula “sight unseen” in 1913 was an extraordinary occurrence. So too were the campaigns to finance the construction and advertise the “most beautiful and desirable residential area” in Southern California. In 1921, E.G. Lewis, the man behind the development of Atascadero and University City in Missouri, devised... Read more

Mary Alice Monroe at the Malaga Cove Library

June 15, 2017
The Palos Verdes Library District is proud to host New York Times Bestselling Author Mary Alice Monroe at the beautiful Malaga Cove Library Garden on Saturday, July 29, 2017, 2:00-4:00 pm. Mary will be promoting the latest in her Beach House series: Beach House for Rent, which explores the interconnection between two strangers and the natural world along with the... Read more

PV Summer Readers Starts June 5!

May 8, 2017
Find a World of Wonders at the PV Library This Summer! Summer is coming, and a world of wonders awaits kids of all ages at the Palos Verdes Library District. PV Summer Readers: Kids and Teens who join this program can earn cool prizes for summer reading. Members may read any books and also try some reading activities that are... Read more

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May

May 1, 2017
As part of the project “Japanese Americans on the Peninsula: Learning from Our Past to Look to Our Future”, the Palos Verdes Library District will celebrate the Peninsula’s growing, changing, and diverse community through a series of events for all ages during Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month in May 2017. The project is a recipient of the 2016 Humanities... Read more

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