WELCOME

Welcome to the Culver City Friends of the Library website! The Friends are a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting the Culver City Julian Dixon Library. Your support enables the Culver City Julian Dixon Library to enrich its resources, enhance its services, and expand its programs to maximize the Library's role and usefulness in the community.

Click here to see the Fall Newsletter

As the year winds down and the holidays are upon us, it's time to look ahead for the Culver City Friends of the Library. We are delighted to present the Board's recommendations for the officers for 2026. It is with deep appreciation that we thank outgoing President, Michael Laase, for guiding the group through several tricky years during the pandemic. Incoming President, Aileen Zeidman, is looking forward to some exciting projects and activities in the year ahead.

This is also the time to renew your membership (unless you are a life member, in which case it might be a good opportunity to send in a donation to help support the library!) We are attaching a membership form to this email to make this easier for you!

Here is the slate of officers:
President: Aileen Zeidman
Vice-President: Laura Jane Kessner
President Emeritus: Michael Laase
Secretary: Susannah Baxendale
Treasurer: Roz Henderson
Book Room Chair: Steven Wieber
Membership Co-Chairs: Pat Harmon and Sue Wiedem
Members-at-Large: Wanda Anesh, Sandy Eliga, Fran Kissel, Tricia Krause, Nancy Kuechle,
Marie Romano

We will hold our Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner at the Culver City Julian Dixon Library at 6 pm on Wednesday, January 14. Please save the date, and watch for further information about the menu and pricing. This will be more low-key than our usual yearly dinners, as we are planning a gala event later in the year to showcase our latest library beautification project.

We are also planning a pop-up children's book sale for Saturday, December 6, so watch for further details on that great opportunity to help the library and get some great bargains at the same time.

In the meantime, we hope your holidays are safe and happy, filled with friends and family and lots of good books!

Michael Laase and Aileen Zeidman
Co-Presidents
Culver City Friends of the Library

Stop by and see this appreciation of the Friends of the Library in the foyer of the CCJDL. We are happy to be able to support such a great community resource! If you aren’t a member of the Friends, now is a good time to join! Thanks to the staff for such a wonderful display.

Click this line to view photos of our members at the event.

The Culver City Friends of the Library held their 2025 installation of officers with a dinner celebration on Friday January 17, 2025. The new slate of officers were sworn in by former Culver City mayor Göran Eriksson.

The celebration included recognition of Paula and Tom Wilson for their dedication and support of the Julian Dixon Library. Also celebrated was Wanda Anesh, the outgoing treasurer of CCFOL.

The new slate of officers for 2025 is as follows:

Michael Laase and Aileen Zeidman—Co-Presidents
Susannah Baxendale—Secretary
Roz Henderson—Treasurer
Steven Wieber—Book Room Chair
Pat Harmon and Sue Wiedem—Membership Co-Chairs
Kelly Conn—Library Representative
Members-at-large: Wanda Anesh, Sandy Eliga, Fran Kissel, Tricia Krause, Nancy Kuechle, and Marie Romano

Click the next line to see a video of the Kaizuka Meditation Garden Re-Dedication and Ribbon Cutting

https://youtu.be/cKmZ9lx6Hzo

Over 130 people enjoyed the visit by best-selling author, Lisa See to the Culver City Julian Dixon Library. In a belated celebration of the library's 50th anniversary at the current location, the audience was treated to a first-hand view of the process See went through to write her family history, On Gold Mountain. Not only the story of her family, it also gives a good view of the Chinese-American experience and the early days of Los Angeles. An outstanding speaker, See kept the audience spellbound by the stories and anecdotes she shared and answered questions from the audience. She graciously answered questions from the audience and signed books for guests at the end. In addition to On Gold Mountain, she is the author of 3 mystery stories set in China, and 8 novels dealing with various aspects of Asian life and culture.

Many thanks to CLM Kelly Conn and her staff for all the work they did to make the event run so smoothly!

Author Lisa See is flanked by Co-Presidents: Aileen Zeidman and Michael Laase

 

Dear Friends of the Library Members,

Happy New Year! It's that time of year again. Time to renew your membership! Click here for an application. The membership application can easily be printed off and either mailed to the Library or brought in on your next visit. If you have already sent in your renewal or joined, thank you.

Due to the current rise in Covid, RSV, and Flu, we are now planning a Zoom Annual Meeting and Installation. It will be held on January 26th at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please send me a direct email request (info@ccfol.org) and I will send you the Zoom Link when it is available.

The following members have been elected by the Board to serve for 2024:

Co-Presidents: Aileen Zeidman and Michael Laase
Treasurer: Wanda Anesh
Secretary: Susannah Baxendale
Book Chair: Steven Wieber
Membership: Patricia Harmon
President Emeritus: Nancy Kuechle
Members at Large: Tricia Krause, Fran Kissel, Marion Joy,
Sandi Eliga, Roz Henderson, and Sue Wiedem
Library Rep: Kelly Conn, CLM

I would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who supports the Used Book Room. Whether you donate, purchase, or do both, thank you for your support. Our book sales make up over 70% of our income. The profit from the book sales support the various programs provided at the Library, go to purchase new books for check out, and to support the Library Staff. A big shout out of thanks to our Book Chair, Stevern Wieber and his assistant Paul Taylor! They take in donations and keep the Book Room well stocked. Thank you both for your hard work and dedication!

Hope to see you all real soon,
Michael

Michael Laase
President
Culver City Friends of the Library

 

New Donation Bin

We are pleased to announce that the bin is in! Our new donation bin is installed and ready for your donations of quality books, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. The donation bin is located at the rear of the library, just off the parking lot. We ask that all items donated be in nice, clean, gently used condition. One condition guideline to follow is “don’t donate it if you wouldn’t buy it.” Another is “would you display this on the shelves in your living room.”

All donated items must be put inside the bin - do not leave any items outside of the bin. Due to size and storage limitations, if your donation is larger than 4 bankers boxes, please contact us first at info@ccfol.org in order to make arrangements.

We can not accept the following: encyclopedia sets, outdated textbooks, VHS tapes, outdated technology books, or any items damaged by heat, mold, or water. We can accept select magazines in excellent condition only.

The Friends Board would like to thank everyone for their generous donations of quality media items. Many of these books have been added directly to the library collection. Our Book Room sales have made it possible for us to support the staff and various programs presented by the County. Thank you for your continued support!

--
Michael Laase
President
Culver City Friends of the Library

Quilt Honoring Laura Frakes

Click here to download a PDF file of the Culver City Julian Dixon Library
2021 Annual Summary.

Important Information about Library Services

To donate books to the Friends of the Library, please use the donation bin in the library parking lot (NOT the library book return bin!), preferably during library open hours (M-F 10 am-5 pm). If you have more than 4 or 5 bags or boxes, please contact us at info@ccfol.org to arrange a drop-off time. Thank you for your continued support.

The Library is OPEN

In person open hours are:

Mondays: Closed
Tuesday: 12:00 - 8:00
Wednesday: 12:00 - 8:00
Thursday: 10:00 - 6:00
Friday: 10:00 - 6:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 6:00
Sunday: Closed

Also, the Friends are accepting book, DVD, and CD donations.

 

Click the following link for additional information about this years events.

 

On Gold Mountain Discussion Questions

 

 

 

To celebrate 100 years of Incorporation for Culver City

This project commemorates the Centennial through various forms of fiber art by portraying some of the iconic aspects of Culver City, past and present. More than thirty members of the community, ages 8 to 80, collaborated in the creation of this wall hanging, which commenced in May and was sponsored by CCFOL. It was inspired by the California Yarnscapes project of Yarn Bombing LA that was displayed at the Autry Museum last spring, and attempts to depict some of the history and locales that are dear to the hearts of Culver City residents. The main panel was displayed at City Hall on September 20, as part of the Culver City Birthday Party. The two flanking panels depict some of the past history of Culver City, even prior to the incorporation of the city, and some of the arts, activities, films and TV shows that have been part of the city. A legend, explaining the various components will be available at the library as well. The main panel is 5'x7', and the two additional panels are approximately 5' square.

AND THE WINNERS OF THE

NOT SO WIMPY

FILM FESTIVAL ARE

Mayor's Award

Filmmaker Amit Gupta

Click here to see this award winning video

Centennial Award

Filmmaker Moses J. Fritz.

Violet Fritz, Winner of the Best Actress award.

Click here to see this award winning video

Click here to see the photos of the Not So Wimpy Film Festival.--

Discover & Go is a partnership between libraries and cultural institutions. With a LA County Library card, you can reserve FREE family passes to local museums and cultural attractions through the Discover & Go online portal.

You can check it out here: http://www.colapublib.org/DiscoverGo/

Culver City Friends of the Library annual
Meeting and Installation Dinner 2017

PHOTOS Click Here

One Book, One City

Donor photo taken at the 2014 Installation Dinner Event

Click here for the original photo not sized to fit.

 

Click here to view the Donor list for the Library Centennial Renovation Project

and see some project details

Click here to see the entire 7 page collection of "Edible Books 2011"

Click here to see a partial listing of titles purchased by the CCFOL for our Library

Click here to see photos of the CCFOL knitting class.

Click here for the Whip Cream Butter Cream Icing recipe.

Click here to see the Culver City Friends of the Library knitting class photos.

Click here for an application.

The Culver City Julian Dixon Library is located at 4975 Overland Avenue in Culver City.

For more information, pick up a flyer at the library or phone, write or email the Culver City Friends of the Library, www.ccfol.org, and (310) 559-1676.

 

Culver City Julian Dixon Library
Culver City Friends of the Library-www.ccfol.org
4975 Overland Avenue, Culver City
(310) 559-1676

For ADA accommodation, call
County of Los Angeles Public Library (310) 830-0231 (voice) or (310) 830-4532 (TTY)
www.colapublib.org Monday-Friday 8-5 at least 6 days prior to event