As the first building in the United States to be glad in titanium – a distinctive metallic design element that recalls the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain – the Cerritos Library is very much a product of its turn-of-the-millennium concept and architectural influences. The interior includes a children’s library with an enormous aquarium and artificially tree-lined grove, a permanent exhibition dedicated to America’s First Ladies (honoring Cerritos-born Patricia Nixon), and ground level rooms with elements inspired by art deco and the arts and crafts movement.
In addition to aesthetically modern book stacks on the top floor and a large graphic novel/young adult reading room on the ground floor, the Cerritos Library also has a collection of beautiful sculptures on its grounds, visible all the way from its parking lot to the surrounding streets, as well as a collection of blown glass pieces from artist Dale Chihuly. Even if you’re not planning to borrow any books, it’s worth seeing for the design and ambitions alone, which make it one of the most impressive libraries in the region.
