Introduction

The Vermont Square Branch Library is a branch library of the Los Angeles Public Library System. It is located in the South Central region of Los Angeles, California. It was the first Carnegie library to be built in Los Angeles, according to the now-defunct newspaper Southwest Wave (“City’s Oldest Library,” 1983). Its rich history spans decades, tying closely to the history of the Los Angeles Public Library System. Hence, to comprehend the history of this once-popular branch library, one must first study the origins and early history of the Los Angeles Public Library System. In this study, therefore, we will first discuss the Los Angeles Public Library System, how it started branch libraries (such as the Vermont Square Branch), and its reasons for doing so. We will also analyze the Vermont Square Branch Library's at its height, during its first four decades, while it was a popular community library (and before it started to go into decline in the late 1950s); the surrounding community's key role during that era; and the library staff and leaders who oversaw both its development and operations during those decades. Therefore, this library study will help readers to understand the history and importance behind the Vermont Square Branch Library.