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Mission Statement

Friends of Echo Park Library is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to strengthening our neighborhood library as a vibrant center for literacy, lifelong learning, and cultural connection.

We support the library through advocacy, fundraising, and hands-on volunteer service, with a special commitment to our four signature programs: the Philippine Heritage Collection, the Carlos Bulosan Book Club, WildLife Habitat LA (WiLiHaLA), and the Monthly Used Book Sale.

Through the Philippine Heritage Collection, we help preserve, grow, and promote access to books, archives, and materials that reflect Filipino history, culture, and community life—locally and globally. Through the Carlos Bulosan Book Club, we invite readers of all backgrounds to explore Filipino and diasporic literature, engage in thoughtful discussion, and connect across generations.

Our WildLife Habitat LA (WiLiHaLA) program encourages environmental awareness and stewardship by connecting community members—especially young people—to local wildlife, nature habitats, and sustainability resources through the library. The Monthly Used Book Sale recirculates donated materials at low cost, making books more affordable and raising essential funds to support library collections, programs, and services.

By championing these programs alongside the library’s broader services, Friends of Echo Park Library works to:

• Promote literacy and a love of reading for people of all ages
• Preserve and celebrate Filipino and other underrepresented histories and stories
• Foster environmental awareness and community engagement with our local habitat
• Increase affordable access to books while generating support for library programs
• Create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to learn, share, and belong