The Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library Bookstore Builds Community, One Reader at a Time
More than words.
Nestled between the Hermosa Beach community center, playhouse and historical society is one of the South Bay’s true hidden gems. In fact, several locals half-jokingly suggested this article shouldn’t be written at all. Their concern? Too much attention might spoil what they consider the area’s best-kept secret: the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library Bookstore.
Housed in an 800-square-foot building that once served as a storage facility for the community center, the bookstore has evolved into a vibrant cultural hub. Books, games, vinyl records and DVDs are sold at prices that feel frozen in time—hardcover books for $1, paperbacks for $.50—creating the kind of browsing experience that seems increasingly rare.
At the center of the organization is Nancy Domingues, the Friends of the Library’s events and program coordinator. A longtime South Bay resident, Nancy developed a love of libraries early in life, describing them as a “safe space” during her childhood in Newark, New Jersey. After initially volunteering with the organization, she eventually stepped into her current leadership role.
Her enthusiasm for literature and community is immediately evident when discussing the Friends of the Library, whose mission extends far beyond the bookstore itself. While the shop, currently located on the south side of the community center complex near Pier Avenue, remains the organization’s most visible feature, it represents only one piece of a much larger effort to foster literary culture throughout Hermosa Beach and the South Bay.
“The shop is literally just one little piece of the puzzle,” Nancy explains. “It’s where people come for community. We have lots of regulars, and it’s amazing to see the connections between volunteers and patrons. It’s become this hub that’s alive, vibrant and full of life. You can’t go in there and not smile.”
That welcoming atmosphere is enhanced by the volunteers themselves, who help create a warm, neighborhood feel, including the tradition of freshly baked cookies appearing every Friday.
Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library, or HBFoL, has set an ambitious goal of making Hermosa the “Best Little Bookish Beach City” in the country. Founded nearly 70 years ago, the nonprofit has built an impressive operation fueled by both community support and volunteer dedication.
“It’s where people come for community. It’s become this hub that’s alive, vibrant and full of life. You can’t go in there and not smile.”
The numbers are striking: Roughly 100,000 books and DVDs are donated annually by residents. The organization’s online bookstore, operated through PangoBooks, ships titles to customers in all 50 states. Combined in-person and online sales recently generated a record $96,912. Remarkably, the entire operation is supported by a small staff and 97 volunteers contributing thousands of hours each year.
While the bookstore remains the organization’s crown jewel, HBFoL works behind the scenes in ways many visitors never realize. The nonprofit hosts author events across the South Bay, including sold-out discussions centered on genres ranging from romance to science fiction. It also supplies books and infrastructure for the growing network of Little Free Libraries throughout the Beach Cities, with the long-term goal of creating a continuous corridor of free, 24/7 book access within walking distance of every Hermosa home.
The organization’s ambitions continue to grow. Future plans include expanding author programming, increasing donations to the Hermosa Beach Library, strengthening the successful Book READCycle Program—which distributes books to schools, teachers, nonprofits and community organizations—and launching a Beach Cities scholarship program for high school students focused on creative writing and historical research.
Another major initiative is the goal of installing 125 Little Free Libraries in time for Hermosa Beach’s 125th anniversary in 2032.
In other words, HBFoL is just getting started. All are welcome to visit, donate or volunteer for this truly worthwhile cultural stop in the South Bay. Whether you’re looking for a good read, good conversation or just a safe space to spend a quiet afternoon, this may quickly become your home away from home.
