The mission of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is to inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. The Research Library has been an integral part of the Museum since its founding in 1913, and its holdings reflect the breadth of its collections. The collection consists of materials in a variety of fields, most particularly regarding anthropology, ethnology, zoology, mineralogy, paleontology, and history – especially as it relates to Southern California history, geography and industry.
The Natural History Museum Los Angeles County's digital collection at California Revealed consists of texts, still images, moving images, and audio recordings from the 1910s to the 1990s. The collection includes photographs and films related to the La Brea Tar Pits dig site, museum bulletins, and films related to Southern California life.