Libraries worth a trip with kids around Los Angeles

Los Angeles has many library systems (LA County Library, LAPL, and city libraries of their own), and for parents that means nearly every city has one branch with a seriously good children's room, with plenty of Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Armenian picture books. Spending a hot morning in a library for $0 is the local parents' consensus.

The Cerritos Library is the country's most famous experience library, with a 15,000-gallon aquarium and a T. rex in the children's area; the Arcadia branch has lots of Chinese picture books and a park across the street; Monrovia's opens onto a fountain and the old main street; Glendale's central library gives kids a whole floor, with the Americana across the road. Downtown, the 1926 rotunda and murals of the Central Library are an attraction in themselves, straight down the A Line, and the Santa Monica Main Library and Irvine's Heritage Park branch both sit beside a park and a beach.

• 7 places
• 7 free
• 7 stroller-friendly
• closest is 5 min away