The Branch was temporarily closed in 1987 due to the Whittier Narrows Earthquake , along with 6 other L.A. branch libraries . The structural damage reported totaled approximately $ 32,000 . On July 28 , 1988 , while the building was closed for repairs , the branch was moved to a temporary location on 3500 Whittier Blvd , Los Angeles . Through the relocation process , over ten thousand volumes of books were moved from the damaged library to the temporary location . Funding from the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department was used by Martinez-Hirsch Associates to design and lead the renovation and expansion of the damaged building . Although the library officials expected to be at the temporary location for many years , the library was re-opened on July 3rd , 1991
Whittier Narrows Earthquake
1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake
Robert Louis Stevenson Branch Library