South Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Vermont Square Branch Library
| | Oldest Library in Los Angeles | |
Photographed by Craig Baker
1. Vermont Square Branch Library Marker
City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public Library
Vermont Square Branch
Built 1913
Renovated 1996
Richard J. Riordan, Mayor
Erected 1996 by City of Los Angeles. (Marker Number 264.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries, and the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 33° 59.991′ N, 118° 17.755′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in South Los Angeles. It is at the intersection of 48th Street and Budlong Avenue, on the right when traveling west on 48th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1201 W 48th St, Los Angeles CA 90037, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Exposition Club House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Exposition Park International Community Center (approx. 0.9 miles away); Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (approx. 1.1 miles away); Vin Scully (approx. 1.1 miles away); Los Angeles Dodgers (approx. 1.1 miles away); Jackie Robinson (approx. 1.1 miles away); John F. Kennedy (approx. 1.1 miles away); Los Angeles Coliseum Mercy Bowl (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
Regarding Vermont Square Branch Library. This is the oldest library building in the Los Angeles Public Library system, built in 1913 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. This was the first of six Carnegie libraries to be built with this grant. Only three survive today: Vermont Square, Cahuenga, and Lincoln Heights branch libraries.
This library building shares elements at its entrance common to many Carnegie libraries: a stairway symbolizing personal elevation through learning, and lamps at
Photographed by Craig Baker
2. Vermont Square Branch Library Marker
Located to the right of the librarys back door. This plaque was recently removed, and has not yet been replaced.
Designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 264 in June 1983. In 1987, several branch libraries in Los Angeles were added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of a thematic group submission. The application noted Vermont Branch was "a one-story structure designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival and Mediterranean Revival style".
On May 26, 1990, the library was closed, due to the city mandated earthquake hazard reduction order. Improvements made during the renovation/restoration program include the renovation of the auditorium downstairs into a more user-friendly multipurpose room for community and library events, installation of new climate control systems, and the reinforcement of the structure of the building to protect its patrons during an earthquake. The library reopened in May 1996.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The three Carnegie libraries in Los Angeles.
Photographed by Craig Baker
3. Vermont Square Branch Library
Photographed by Craig Baker
4. Vermont Square Branch Library
courtesy LAPL
5. Vermont Square Branch Library
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 42 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on April 17, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
