To search the LACoMAX database, click the "BROWSE" link located at the left menu of any page. Materials are arranged by 15 different classifications. Select "AVAILABLE" if you would like to obtain the material, or select "WANTED" if you are donating or selling material. You may view wanted and available materials by selecting "BOTH". Select the area to search within Los Angeles County, or select "ALL" to search the entire County. Finally, check the box if you are looking for school or non-profit listings only. Selecting this option will display only those listings posted by or for schools and non-profits. Click the "BROWSE" button and LACoMAX will provide you with a complete listing.

Once you find the material that you are looking for, use the contact information to contact the listing party directly and make arrangements to conduct a successful exchange. All negotiations involving price and transportation are conducted between the two parties.

To post a listing on LACoMAX, click the "POST" link located at the left menu of any page. New users should fill in the User Information Form. Listings will not be accepted without complete contact information, including name and phone number. Previous users can enter their first or last name and LACoMAX will display a list of matching users. Select your user name from this list and LACoMAX will fill in the user information for you. The Department of Public Works does not give this information to third parties, but a user's name, number and e-mail are made available on our website in order to facilitate contact between exchanging parties.

If you are a previous user but your contact information has changed, you should complete a new "User Information" form for your new listings. You can also email the webmaster with your name and new contact information, and we will update all of your previous listings for you.

Once you have provided your User Information, enter your listing on the "Material Information" form. If you have a material available for sale or for free, select "AVAILABLE". If you are looking for a material, select "WANTED". Select the material category and the area in which your material is located from the drop-down menus. Provide a complete material name and description to make it easier for browsers to find a match. If you are a school/non-profit organization, or if you would like your materials made available exclusively to schools/non-profits, click the "yes" button for "schools/non-profits only".

Potential listings are reviewed by LACoMAX staff prior to posting. Listing parties will be notified if a particular listing is not appropriate for posting on the exchange. Listings are usually posted twice a week. Browsers interested in your listing will contact you directly and make arrangements to conduct a successful exchange. All negotiations involving price and transportation are conducted between the two parties. Please review our description of Acceptable Listings for more information about our policies on posting a listing.

There is no charge to users for the LACoMAX on-line service. However, in exchange for using LACoMAX, we request that you make one commitment: please take the time to report your successful exchanges. While the success of LACoMAX is measured in several ways, one of the most critical is by tracking the number of successful exchanges that take place. By documenting successful exchanges, we can evaluate the cost effectiveness of the program, an essential tool in determining its continuation.

If you have a successful exchange, please fill out the Successful Exchange Form and e-mail, fax, or mail it to LACoMAX. On this form, you may request that your listing be removed if necessary.