Look Back Library (LBL) is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

dedicated to preserving the history of skateboard magazines, and other printed skateboard materials, through traveling exhibits and the building of publicly accessible skateboard magazine libraries.

Mission

As a "Skate Mag Preservation Society" the ''Look Back Library'' aims to promote literacy and the appreciation of printed skateboard materials, particularly magazines. The LBL engages in community outreach through exhibits of classic skate magazines; as well as, installing

skate magazine A skate magazine, or skateboard magazine, is a magazine dedicated to skateboarding. History The first mention of skateboarding in a magazine was in 1963 when the publisher of the “Surf Guide Magazine,” Larry Stevenson, published the first ad ...

libraries at local

Skate shop 320px, Ridin' High Skate Shop in Burlington, Vermont A skate shop or skateshop is a store that sells skateboards and skateboarding apparel. When financially possible, skate shops sponsor local riders and promote skateboarding locally through s ...

s and other venues.

History

Founded by Kevin Marks in 2014, the ''Look Back Library'' originated from a pet project of Marks' to improve the skate magazine library at Launch, a community skate organization located in Fort Collins, Colorado. While improving the library at Launch, he noticed considerable interest from both readers and collectors. Marks conceived of the Look Back Library as a way to place the magazine duplicates he was accumulating into a space where the public could read them. The Look Back HQ is located in San Diego, CA, with Marks spending a good portion of the year traveling and installing libraries.

''41 Years of the Ollie''

In 2019, Look Back Library travelled around the United States, touring a show titled ''41 Years of the

Ollie Ollie is a given name and a nickname, often as a shortened form of Oliver, Olive, Olympia, Olga or Olivia. Variants include Olie, Oli, Oly and Olly. People Given name * Ollie Marie Adams (1925–1998), American gospel and R&B singer * Olli ...

'' - a magazine cover exhibit exploring the history of the ollie. 06 15 2019 Look Back Library exhibit NJ Skate Shop New Brunswick NJ

Libraries

California

* Slappy's Garage -

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

*Look Back HQ -

San Diego, CA San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

* * Local Skate Shop - Lakeside * The House Skate Shop -

Vista Vista usually refers to a distant view. Vista may also refer to: Software *Windows Vista, the line of Microsoft Windows client operating systems released in 2006 and 2007 * VistA, (Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture) ...

* Handplant -

Laguna Beach Laguna Beach (; ''Laguna'', Spanish for "Lagoon") is a seaside resort city located in southern Orange County, California, in the United States. It is known for its mild year-round climate, scenic coves, environmental preservation efforts, and a ...

* Socal Skate Shop -

Mission Viejo Mission Viejo ( ; corruption of ''Misión Vieja'', Spanish for "Old Mission") is a commuter city in the Saddleback Valley in Orange County, California, United States. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities eve ...

* Focus Board Shop - Lake Forest * Joker's Skate Shop - Huntington * Next Up Foundation - Anaheim * Contenders Boardshop -

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

* Long Beach Skate -

Long Beach, CA Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the list of United States cities by population, 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the List of citie ...

* Transitions -

Carson, CA Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the South Bay region of Los Angeles, located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately away from Los Angeles International Airport. Incorporated on February 20, 1968, ...

* Apt Skate Shop -

Torrance, CA Torrance is a city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is part of what is known as the South Bay region of the metropolitan area. Torrance has of beachfront on the Pacific O ...

* 3043 Board Shop - South Gate, CA * South Bay Skates -

* Unmodern Industries -

Santa Fe Springs, CA Santa Fe Springs (''Santa Fe'', Spanish for "Holy Faith") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. The population was 16,223 at the 2010 census, down from 17,4 ...

* The Garage Board Shop -

Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

*Six Stair - Los Angeles, CA* * Overcast Skate Shop -

Temecula, CA Temecula (; es, Temécula, ; Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 census and was incorporated on December 1, 1989. The city is a ...

* Kingswell -

* Off Top -

* Skate Punk Skate Shop - City of Industry, CA * Pawn Shop Skate Co. -

Covina, CA Covina is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Valley. The population was 51,268 according to the 2020 census, up from 47,796 at the 2010 census. The city's slogan, "On ...

* Crooks Skate Shop - Riverside, CA * Skateboarding Hall of Fame -

Simi Valley, CA Simi Valley (; Chumash: ''Shimiyi'') is a city in the valley of the same name in the southeast region of Ventura County, California, United States. Simi Valley is from Downtown Los Angeles, making it part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. The ...

* Lighthouse Skate Shop -

Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara ( es, Santa Bárbara, meaning "Saint Barbara") is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coas ...

* Impact Skate Shop -

Bakersfield, CA Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Kern County. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's populat ...

* Skate Works -

Los Altos, CA Los Altos (; Spanish for "The Heights") is a city in Santa Clara County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 31,625 according to the 2020 census. Most of the city's growth occurred between 1950 and 1980. Originally a ...

* Red Curbs Skate Shop -

Fremont, CA Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. Located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area, Fremont has a population of 230,504 as of 2020, making it the fourth most populous city in the Bay Area, behind San Jose, San Fran ...

*The Orchid - Goleta, CA* * Red Curbs II - Concord, CA * San Francisco Skate Club -

San Francisco, CA San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

* Mission Skate Shop -

* Proof Lab -

Mill Valley, CA Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, Marin County, California, United States, located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge and from Napa Valley. The population was 14,231 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 ...

* Brotherhood Board Shop -

Santa Rosa, CA Santa Rosa ( Spanish for " Saint Rose") is a city and the county seat of Sonoma County, in the North Bay region of the Bay Area in California. Its estimated 2019 population was 178,127. It is the largest city in California's Wine Country and ...

*Street Science -

Livermore, CA Livermore (formerly Livermorès, Livermore Ranch, and Nottingham) is a city in Alameda County, California. With a 2020 population of 87,955, Livermore is the most populous city in the Tri-Valley. It is located on the eastern edge of Californi ...

*Kingpin Skate Shop - San Joaquin County, CA *Woodward West - Stallion Springs, CA* *Boulevard Skate Shop -

Sacramento, CA ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...

*Hangtown Board Shop - Placerville, CA

Washington

* Unknown Board Shop -

Bellingham, WA Bellingham ( ) is the most populous city in, and county seat of Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It lies south of the U.S.–Canada border in between two major cities of the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver, British Columbia (loc ...

* All Together Skatepark - Seattle, WA

Oregon

* Shrunken Head Skate Shop -

Portland, OR Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous coun ...

* SOL SK8S -

Bend, OR Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is the principal city of the Bend Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, with a population of 99,178 at the time of the 2020 U.S ...

* Windell's Camp*

Colorado

* Launch - Community through Skateboarding -

Fort Collins, CO Fort Collins is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 169,810 at the 2020 census, an increase of 17.94% since 2010. Fort Collins ...

* Curbside skatepark - Englewood, CO

New Mexico

* Microwave -

Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...

Arizona

* Cowtown - Tempe, AZ* *Mortal Skate Shop - Tucson, AZ

Virginia

* Cardinal Skate Shop -

Norfolk, VA Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Bea ...

Pennsylvania

* Switch & Signal Skatepark - Swissvale, PA *Ignition -

Lancaster, PA Lancaster, ( ; pdc, Lengeschder) is a city in and the county seat of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. With a population at the 2020 census of 58,039, it ranks 11th in population amon ...

*Holistic -

Reading, PA Reading ( ; Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Reddin'') is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 as of the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadel ...

* Woodward EAST*

New York

* Krudco -

Rochester, NY Rochester () is a city in the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Monroe County, and the fourth-most populous in the state after New York City, Buffalo, and Yonkers, with a population of 211,328 at the 2020 United States census. Located in Wes ...

* Jamestown Skate Products - Jamestown, NY * KCDC - Brooklyn, NY

New Jersey

* NJ Skate Shop 1 - Jersey City, NJ * NJ Skate Shop 2 - New Brunswick, NJ * High Voltage Cafe - Asbury Park, NJ

Massachusetts

* The Edge Indoor Skatepark - Taunton, MA

Maryland

* Vu Skate Shop - Baltimore, MD

North Carolina

* Backdoor Skate Shop - Greenville, NC

Georgia

* Ruin - Dunwoody, GA *

South Carolina

* Continuum - Charleston, SC

Florida

* The Boardr - Tampa, FL*

Texas

* Crooks - El Paso, TX * AltaVista Skate Shop - San Antonio, TX * 4Dwn skatepark - Dallas, TX * Deviance Skate Supply -

Wichita Falls, TX Wichita Falls ( ) is a city in and the county seat, seat of government of Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls metropolitan area, Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of ...

* Southside Skate Shop - Houston, TX

Oklahoma

* Nine One Skate -

Tulsa, OK Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...

Nebraska

* Precision Skate Shop - Lincoln, NE

Kentucky

* Riot Skatepark - Louisville, KY

Indiana

* Minus - Indianapolis, IN * Rhett Skateboarding - Bloomington, IN * Killer Skatepark -

Evansville, IN Evansville is a city in, and the county seat of, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States. The population was 118,414 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the state's List of cities in Indiana, ...

Tennessee

* Hunt Supply Co - Nashville, TN * Sixth Avenue Skatepark - Nashville, TN

Ohio

* Tri-Star Skates - Cleveland, OH * Demented Skate Shop - Liberty Township, Butler County, OH

Wisconsin

* Cream City Skatepark - Butler, WI * Freedom - Madison, WI

Minnesota

* Familia HQ Skatepark -

Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with list of lakes in Minneapolis, thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. ...

Illinois

* Ground Floor Skateboards -

Rockford, IL Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, located in the far northern part of the state. Situated on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County). ...

* Fargo Skateboarding -

DeKalb, IL DeKalb ( ) is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 according to the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated Franconian-French war hero Johann de Kalb, who died d ...

* F A Skates - Prospect, IL

Kansas

* All City Skateboarding - Wichita, KS * River Rat Skate Shop - Lawrence, KS

Michigan

* Plus Skateboarding - Farmington, MI *

Missouri

* Missouri Vortex aka Hermann's Hole, near Hermann, MO* *Escapist - Kansas City, MO

Canada

* Antisocial - Vancouver, BC * ToplessPizza Shredquarters

Australia

*Hemley Skateboarding - Fitzroy, Victoria Note: *libraries available by appointment only

References

{{authority control Libraries in the United States Libraries in San Diego Libraries in San Diego County, California Libraries in California Skateboarding magazines Non-profit organizations based in San Diego Skateboarding organizations