The Los Angeles Lakers have teamed up with Libby, the library reading app, to renovate the children’s and teen areas of the Los Angeles Public Library’s Westchester-Loyola Village Branch. The refreshed hubs are engaging and accessible learning spaces for local kids to come together and discover a love for books and reading.
Lakers Legend and Hall of Famer James Worthy read to students ahead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday morning to open the newly updated spaces to the public. With guidance from Heart of America, Libby and the Lakers transformed the spaces to include wall decals, fresh paint, basketball-themed furniture and more.
“Libraries are where stories begin—on the page and in our communities,” said Jason Tyrrell, EVP of Content at OverDrive, the company behind Libby. “At Libby, we’re passionate about connecting readers of all ages to the books they love. Teaming up with the Lakers to reimagine these spaces means more than a fresh coat of paint. It’s about creating a place where kids feel inspired, welcome and empowered to explore the world through reading.”
This initiative is the first chapter in three planned Lakers and Libby community library renovations. Through these efforts, the Lakers and Libby aim to engage and inspire young people by creating welcoming spaces that foster a love for reading.
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“Encouraging kids and making a positive impact in Los Angeles is a top priority for the Lakers, and we are thrilled to bring this effort to life with Libby,” Los Angeles Lakers Director of Community Relations Mathew Makovec said. “Reading should be exciting and accessible for young readers, sparking a lifelong love of books that empowers them to win in life.”
Libby is an Official Sponsor of the Los Angeles Lakers, helping to make reading more accessible to Lakers fans through initiatives including book recommendations on the Lakers’ LinkedIn, support for the Lakers Literacy League, book giveaways and reading events for students across Los Angeles.
OverDrive is a mission-based company that supports libraries and schools. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 87,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries with the largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. OverDrive’s commitment to empower every library and school includes expanding access for all, industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, the Kanopy video streaming app, and TeachingBooks, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. www.overdrive.com
A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service—the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, physical collection of more than six million items, digital content and state-of-the-art technology accessible at lapl.org.
Heart of America transforms learning spaces, bridges the resource gap, and strengthens communities to give all students room to learn, discover, and thrive. We believe every student deserves inspiring spaces equipped with the right resources to increase access and equity in education. And behind that belief is a deep commitment to collaboration. We listen thoughtfully and partner closely as we co-create vibrant spaces and innovative solutions that reflect the communities we serve. Since 1997, we have transformed more than 1,100 spaces and impacted the lives of more than 2.5 million students in historically marginalized communities by providing over 4.4 million books and more than $9.5 million in technology. www.heartofamerica.org
The 17-time NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers are the most storied basketball franchise in the world. Born as a Minneapolis basketball team in 1947, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and are proud to represent Los Angeles on and off the court. Through their commitment to creating positive change, the Lakers provide access to resources and opportunities. The Lakers play their home games at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles and practice at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, Calif.
