| Van Nuys Branch Library ("old"—1926 & "new"—1964) | |
| Location: | 14555 Sylvan, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. |
| Coordinates: | 34.1847°N -118.4497°W |
| Built: | 1926; 1964 |
| Architect: | Allison & Allison |
| Architecture: | Mission-Spanish Colonial Revival (1926) Mid-century modern (1964) |
| Added: | May 19, 1987 |
| Designated Other2: | LAHCM |
| Designated Other2 Date: | February 13, 2008 |
| Designated Other2 Number: | 911 |
| Mpsub: | Los Angeles Branch Library System TR |
| Refnum: | 87001019 |
Van Nuys Branch covers two branch library buildings of the Los Angeles Public Library, both located in Van Nuys, central San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California.
The original or "Old" Van Nuys Branch library was built in 1926 based on a Spanish Colonial Revival style design by architects Allen & Allen. In 37 years of operation, the circulation grew from 27,000 to more than 350,000 volumes annually. The old branch was closed in 1964, and replaced with a new branch in the Van Nuys Civic Center on the other side of Van Nuys Boulevard.[1]
The "New" Van Nuys Branch library opened in 1964 in the then-new Van Nuys Civic Center.[1] The Mid-century modern style one-story masonry building extends out into the landscape with a modernist colonnade, and is shaded by groves of trees.
The building was also headquarters for the Los Angeles Public Library's bookmobile service.[1] It was temporarily closed and surrounded by a chain-link fence in 2005, and in 2007 the city announced plans to auction off the building.[3] Instead it was renovated to reopen as the branch library again.
The restored and updated "New" Van Nuys branch library is again the Los Angeles Public Library branch for Van Nuys, in the expanded Van Nuys Government Center complex of public buildings that replaced the former Van Nuys Civic Center.[4]
In January 2019, the "New" Van Nuys branch library closed again for renovations. It was scheduled to reopen in summer 2020, but the renovations were delayed due to COVID-19. The library finally reopened in October 2021.[5]