La Jolla/Riford Library
🏢 San Diego Public Library — San Diego, California
La Jolla/Riford Library
A 25,000-square-foot La Jolla branch made possible by a land gift from Florence Riford, now known for an IDEA Lab that includes one of the first public biology labs found in any library.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 11:30 AM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 6 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM – 6 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 7555 Draper Avenue, San Diego, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 552-1657
Website: sandiego.gov/public-library
📖 About La Jolla/Riford Library
The La Jolla/Riford Library serves the seaside community of La Jolla from a 25,000-square-foot building made possible in part by a land donation from local benefactor Florence Riford. The branch pairs everyday library services with distinctive amenities, including a fireplace, an enclosed outdoor reading patio, and a community room with a piano and art gallery. Its IDEA Lab, which opened in May 2019, is anchored by a community biology lab equipped for standard molecular biology work such as a thermal cycler, gel electrophoresis, and a centrifuge, along with 3D printers and digital media editing stations. The library also maintains a La Jolla History Room preserving local documents and newspaper archives for the neighborhood. Three bookable meeting and study spaces range from a 15-person patio room to a 75-person community room. Together these features make the branch as much a maker and research space as a place to borrow books.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- IDEA Lab featuring one of the first public biology labs in any U.S. library
- Community biology equipment: thermal cycler, gel electrophoresis, centrifuge
- 3D printers and digital photo/video editing stations
- La Jolla History Room with local documents and newspaper archives
📱 Free with a San Diego Public Library Card
Any California resident can get an SDPL card free and unlock:
📍 More San Diego Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can the public actually use the biology lab at the La Jolla/Riford Library?
Yes. The branch's IDEA Lab, opened in May 2019, includes a community biology lab open to patrons and equipped for common molecular biology techniques using tools like a thermal cycler, gel electrophoresis, and a centrifuge.
Who was the library named after?
The 'Riford' in the name honors Florence Riford, a local benefactor whose land donation helped make the 25,000-square-foot La Jolla library possible.
Where can I research La Jolla's local history at this branch?
The library maintains a dedicated La Jolla History Room that holds a collection of local historical documents and newspaper archives about the community.