Cerritos Library
🏢 City of Cerritos · Cerritos, California
Cerritos Library
Step past a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium wall into North America's first titanium-clad public building — Cerritos Library is the world's first "Experience Library," where every room tells a different story.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 11am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 11am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 11am–7pm |
| Thursday | 11am–7pm |
| Friday | 11am–7pm |
| Saturday | 11am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 18025 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703
Phone: (562) 916-1350
Website: library.cerritos.gov
Plus Code: 8553VW8P+Q5 (Cerritos, CA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Cerritos Library
Opened March 16, 2002, the Cerritos Library is a $40 million, 82,500-square-foot architectural landmark designed by Charles Walton Associates — and the first titanium-clad public building in North America. Inspired by the Guggenheim Bilbao and the concept of "The Experience Economy," library director Waynn Pearson envisioned a place where every corner is a themed world: the Old World Reading Room evokes 19th-century Europe with a fireplace and chandelier-lit shelves, while the children's wing transforms into a "Save the Planet" adventure complete with a 40-foot T-Rex replica, a lighthouse reading nook, a space shuttle model and a rainforest canopy. The original library dates to 1973, dedicated in honor of Pat Nixon who grew up in Cerritos, and was expanded in 1986 before the 2002 Millennium Library overhaul. Today, with more than 300,000 items and over 200 computer workstations, it holds a Thea Award (2003), an AIA/ALA Award of Excellence and a five-star Library Journal rating.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium — a 10-ft-high by 21-ft-wide wall of coral and fish visible from the entrance and the children's wing
- First titanium-clad public building in North America, designed by Charles Walton Associates (opened March 16, 2002) — $40 million Millennium Library overhaul
- Old World Reading Room with fireplace, chandeliers and leather-bound European classics, plus a children's "Save the Planet" wing featuring Stan the 40-ft T-Rex and a lighthouse reading nook
- Thea Award (2003), AIA/ALA Award of Excellence and five-star Library Journal rating — named Best Public Library by Reader's Digest (2004)
- Smithsonian Affiliate with rotating museum-quality exhibitions, plus multilingual materials in 9 languages and a 3,200-sq-ft Skyline Room conference center
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Free digital access with a Cerritos Library card — including eBooks, streaming film and research databases:
📚 Services
- Free Wi-Fi and 200+ public computer workstations
- Print center (printing, scanning, faxing)
- Electronic self-checkout stations
- Adaptive technology rooms with accessible equipment
- Study rooms (reservable)
- Skyline Room and conference facilities (3,200 sq ft; up to 250 guests)
- Hi-Tech Training Lab (27-person capacity)
- Multilingual materials in 9 languages (Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Vietnamese)
- Local History Room
- Teen Studio with state-of-the-art technology
- Little Theater (children's performances)
- Arts Studio (children's crafts)
- Smithsonian Affiliate exhibitions
🎸 Programs
- Children's Storytimes (all ages)
- STEM Activities and Explore & Learn programs
- Arts and Crafts Classes
- Beanstack Reading Challenges
- Summer Reading Program
- Teen Volunteens program
- Read Away Your Fines (under 18)
- Adult and Teen Book Clubs
- Virtual Astronomy Presentations (Solar System, Constellations, Exoplanets)
- LOTE4Kids — digital children's books in 75+ languages
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeast Los Angeles County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Cerritos · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium at Cerritos Library still operating?
Yes. The aquarium — a 10-foot-high by 21-foot-wide wall of saltwater coral and fish — is the centerpiece of the main entrance and is also visible from the children's wing. Library staff actively maintain roughly 200 fish. It is one of the most photographed features in the building and confirmed operational as of 2025–2026.
What makes Cerritos Library's architecture so unusual?
The 2002 building, designed by Charles Walton Associates, is the first titanium-clad public building in North America. The exterior panels shift color subtly with changing sunlight and are virtually maintenance-free. Inside, the library pioneered the "Experience Library" concept — each floor and room is a distinct themed environment, inspired by the Guggenheim Bilbao and the book The Experience Economy.
What are the themed spaces inside Cerritos Library?
The first floor features a Main Street Art Deco entrance, a Craftsman-style Great Room for paperbacks and magazines, an Old World Reading Room evoking 19th-century Europe with a fireplace and hologram, and the children's "Save the Planet" library with Stan the 40-ft T-Rex, a lighthouse, the Spirit of Cerritos space shuttle and a rainforest. The second floor has a futuristic 21st-century design, and the third floor is a 3,200-sq-ft Skyline Room conference center.
Can I use Cerritos Library if I don't live in Cerritos?
Free cards go to Cerritos residents, property owners, workers and students at ABC Unified, Bellflower Unified or Cerritos College. Everyone else can purchase a non-resident annual membership for $100. Active military with California residency and current guests of the Cerritos Sheraton also qualify for free cards.
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