New Pico Branch Library Opens to the Public

Ready, set, read! The Pico Branch Library, 2201 Pico Boulevard, is now open. The new neighborhood library is the first addition to the Santa Monica Public Library system in more than 50 years. Nestled in between the Thelma Terry Center and the Farmers Market zone, the Pico Branch is located in the heart of the Virginia Avenue Park campus and is designed programmatically to enhance early literacy, lifelong learning, and to complement Park programs.

The Pico Branch is stocked with a brand new "opening day" collection of 25,000 materials for adults, teens and children. In addition to popular books, movies, music, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers, the collection includes materials in Spanish and large print books.

The Pico Branch Library is currently in a soft-open mode, with an official Grand Opening ceremony and festival scheduled for Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the first three days that the Pico Branch was open, it welcomed nearly 1,650 visitors.

Santa Monica Public Library branch hours are noon-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (closed Sunday). The Pico Branch is wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit http://www.smpl.org/PicoBranch.aspx.