Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Phone: (714) 842-4481
Fax: (714) 375-5180
Hours
Monday:
1pm - 9pm
Tue, Wed, Thu:
9am - 9pm
Fri, Sat:
9am - 5pm
Sunday: Closed
- Children's storytimes & events
- Meeting rooms & theater rentals
- Quiet study rooms
- Library Facts
- View Photos of Central Library
The Central Library is located in beautiful Huntington Beach Central Park. Our closest cross streets are Talbert and Goldenwest. Driving directions are available on our map and directions webpage. The Central Library houses the Genealogy Collection, Media Services, Children's Services, Gift Shop, Used Book Sales and Windows Art Gallery.
The Central library offers small sound-proof rooms to our users. These rooms accommodate from 1-3 people and are rented on a first-come, first-served basis. The rooms are available for $2.00 per hour, payable in advance. Reservations are suggested but are not required. Users must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by an adult.
Windows Art Gallery
Tucked behind the Friends of the Library Book Sale area is the Windows Art Gallery that houses paintings and art by local artists. Visitors may enjoy the small exhibition for free or even request to purchase a piece that strikes their fancy. For information on current or upcoming shows, or to become a member, visit the Art League's website at www.hbartleague.com.
The Central Library resides in a 350-acre (1.4 km2) park and features a beautiful theater, spacious reading areas, and indoor fountains surrounded by a spiral ramp. The Central library has seven meeting rooms and a 300-seat theater available for rental. The building was desiged by the architectural firm of Richard & Dion Neutra. Shortly before the actual signing of the agreement, Richard Neutra passed away while on tour and his son, Dion, completed the original building on April 5th, 1975. In the mid-1990s, the architectural firm of Anthony & Langford were hired to design a 43,000-square-foot (4,000 m2) expansion. The building was expanded to enclose an outdoor spiral ramp and fountain area. The new wing opened in 1994 and included a new Children’s area with its own story time theater. The lower level featured 7 new meeting rooms and a theater. In 2007, the architectural firm of Tetra Design was commissioned to design a renovation of the Central Library that saw a return of the neutral brown and green color scheme that was originally envisioned by architect Dion Neutra. More historical information is available on the library history webpage.
The Huntington Beach Public Library is commonly mistaken with the Huntington Library, which is about 40 miles (64 km) north in San Marino near Pasadena, California. The San Marino Huntington Library holds the Gutenberg Bible, the famous "Blue Boy" painting by Thomas Gainsborough, and has many famous gardens.