The camp is produced in collaboration with the Los Angeles Unified School District's Homeless Education Program, provides children who are homeless with an invaluable introduction to free library services.

Camp LAPL 2009 will take place the weeks of June 22 – 26 in Central Library and July 6 -10 in Sun Valley branch from 9:30 – 12:30 a.m. Twenty Children ages 7 – 10 years participate, enjoying performances by different professional performers specializing in children's programming as well as a special tour and puppet show at the Central Library. The performers also offered hands-on workshops for the children after the performances. The camp day concluded with a delicious catered lunch for all participants. In addition, every day the children were treated to various gifts, including three to four books to take with them, a camp T-shirt, and small toys. Of course, attractive, high interest books were always available for the children to peruse while they were at camp, and all participants were signed up for the Library's summer reading program and given library card applications.

Camp LAPL is an important example of how the Library serves all sectors of the city, including some of our most needy children. The Library provides a safe haven for these children to do homework, study, use the computer, or enjoy the pleasures of reading.

Grant funds support the educational performances, arts and crafts, meals, and round-trip bus transportation free of charge to the children and chaperones.

Thanks to the generosity of Betty McLaughlin and The Seaver Institute for their support of Camp LAPL.

To learn more about funding opportunities for Camp LAPL, please contact Dawn Coppin, Director of Foundation Relations, at (213) 228-7502.

Support for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles is support for the Los Angeles Public Library. Every dollar counts. Your gift to the Library Foundation helps the Los Angeles Public Library grow stronger.