North Hills : March Debut Planned for Regional Library

The largest branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, after the massive central facility downtown, is set to open in the San Fernando Valley in March.

Library spokesman Robert Reagan said the new, $5-million Mid-Valley Regional Branch in North Hills is one of 10 that will open in 1996.

Others are located in Hollywood, Hancock Park, Watts, Echo Park, Lincoln Heights and two each in South-Central and the Wilshire District.

The North Hills site, located at 16244 Nordhoff St., will serve as headquarters for the West Valley region. Compared to a branch library, a regional facility has a larger staff and collection of books.

The Reseda facility, until now a regional library for the West Valley, will continue operating as a branch.

Although some of the money for library construction came from city coffers, Reagan said the source of much of the funding is a 1989 bond act approved by Los Angeles voters.

The 27,000-square-foot North Hills site will feature a bilingual staff and a glass-framed clock tower and will be the headquarters for the Valley’s bookmobile. It also will have a small auditorium with televisions and VCR monitors for the use of community groups.

For more than a decade, six of the 10 busiest branches of the public library have been Valley locations, according to a survey conducted by the library system.

Two other branch libraries opened in the Valley last year--the Platt Ranch facility in Woodland Hills and the Porter Ranch location.