Los Angeles Public Library

The Los Angeles Public Library system (LAPL) is a public library system in Los Angeles, California. The system holds more than six million volumes,[3] and with around 19 million residents in the Greater Los Angeles area, it serves the largest metropolitan population of any public library system in the United States.[4] The system is overseen by a Board of Library Commissioners with five members appointed by the mayor of Los Angeles in staggered terms, and operates 72 library branches throughout the city.[5] In 1997 a local historian described it as "one of the biggest and best-regarded library systems in the nation."[6] It is not to be confused with the LA County Library system which operates several library branches across certain areas of Los Angeles County.

For the county library system, see County of Los Angeles Public Library. For the pilot licence, see Light aircraft pilot licence.

Los Angeles Public Library
South entrance of the Richard J. Riordan Central Library at Hope Street
LocationHeadquarters: 630 West 5th Street
Los Angeles, California, United States
TypePublic
Established1872
Branches72
Collection
Size6,393,429
Access and use
Circulation18 million (2008)
Population served
4,030,904 (city)

18,783,638 (metro)

Other information
BudgetUS$134,630,543
DirectorJohn F. Szabo (Fall 2012)
Employees944
Websitelapl.org
References: [1][2]

History
The Downey Block, 1880s

The Los Angeles Library Association was formed in late 1872, and by early 1873, a well-stocked reading room had opened in the Downey Block at Temple and Main streets under the first librarian, John Littlefield.[7][8]

The original library consisted of two rooms. The larger room was called the "Book Room," and the smaller room was called the "Conversation Room," which contained newspapers, tables, chairs, and spittoons for the chess and checkers players who gathered there.[9]

Women were not initially involved in the conception and development of the Los Angeles Library Association. First Lady of California Maria Downey was given an honorary membership out of "courtesy," but otherwise, no women were listed in the association's founding documents, women were not represented on the board, and women were denied access to the library's reading room. However, this changed in 1876 when the association decided to implement a "Ladies Room." While this new room did not offer any books, it did provide a number of magazines and comfortable sofa and chairs for local clubwomen to use.[9]

After Mary Foy was appointed as the first head woman librarian in 1880, her appointment was viewed as an act of charity by Mayor Toberman, who may have thought Foy to be in need of a job. Joanne Passet even posited that Foy's nomination, and librarian nominations in general, were seen as "an honorable means of assisting needy men and women in the community." This notion was mostly confirmed when Foy was replaced by Jessie Gavitt, whose economic need was deemed greater than Foy's by the board.[9] Following Foy's appointment, the LAPL would go on to be "headed by a series of women administrators" for the next 25 years. These administrators included, Mary E. Foy (1880–1884), Jessie Gavitt (1884–1889), Lydia Prescott (1889), Tessa Kelso (1889–1895), Clara Fowler (1895–1897), Harriet Child Wadleigh (1897–1900), and Mary L. Jones (1900–1905).[10]

There was further speculation as to why the board decided on appointing Foy as the first head woman librarian. It may have been a political choice since she represented values that flourished in women's organizations, aiming to please the city's powerful women's clubs who may have been applying pressure. It's also suggested that Foy's nomination was a financial move; John Littlefield earned a salary of $100 while Mary Foy earned $75, which included janitorial work.[9]

Tessa Kelso was appointed head librarian in 1889. She abolished the membership fee, increased membership from 100 to 20,000, increased the collection from 12,000 to 300,000 volumes, moved the books to open shelves, and permitted children to use the library. She set up an early system of branch libraries and moved the central library in to City Hall. She was forced out after a controversy over the library's acquisition of Jean Richepin's book La Cadet, which was considered indecent at the time.[7]

Mary Jones, who was appointed Librarian in 1905, was fired by the library board in favor of Charles Fletcher Lummis. The only reason given for this was that the library should be run by a man, not a woman. This provoked "The Great Library War". Women in Los Angeles petitioned and marched in support of Jones but she was finally forced out; she took up a position as head of the library at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.[11][12] Lummis established several special collections, including photography, autographs, and California and Spanish history. He oversaw two moves into larger buildings, and he greatly increased use of the library through several outreach programs.[7]

Circa 1914, the collection numbered 203,600.[13] The central library was located in the "Hamburger Building at Eighth and Broadway" with plans to soon move to the "Metropolitan Building at Fifth and Broadway."[13] The library had 22 branch "reading rooms" including two (San Pedro and Hollywood) housed in Carnegie library buildings.[13] The library had a total of 41 "branches and distribution points" at that time, and cooperated with the "playground department" to offer "branch libraries" at "the Violet Street, Slauson, Hazard, and Echo Park playgrounds, and at the Recreation Center."[13]

Aggressive expansion and growth of the system began in the 1920s. The first building dedicated exclusively for library use opened in 1926.[7]

City librarians
Mary Foy
Tessa Kelso
Charles F. Lummis
  • 1873–1879: John Littlefield
  • 1879–1880: Patrick Connolly
  • 1880–1884: Mary Foy
  • 1884–1889: Jessie Gavitt
  • 1889–1889: Lydia Prescott
  • 1889–1895: Tessa Kelso
  • 1895–1897: Clara Bell Fowler
  • 1897–1900: Harriet Child Wadleigh
  • 1900–1905: Mary Letitia Jones
  • 1905–1910: Charles Fletcher Lummis
  • 1910–1911: Purd Wright
  • 1911–1933: Everett Robbins Perry
  • 1933–1947: Althea Warren
  • 1947–1969: Harold Hamill
  • 1969–1990: Wyman Jones
  • 1990–1994: Elizabeth Martinez
  • 1995–2004: Susan Goldberg Kent
  • 2004–2008: Fontayne Holmes
  • 2009–2012: Martin Gomez
  • 2012–present: John Szabo[7]

Central Library
Main article: Richard J. Riordan Central Library
Los Angeles Central Library at Flower Street

The Central Library Goodhue building was constructed in 1926 and is a Downtown Los Angeles landmark.[14] It was designed by architect Bertram Goodhue.[15] This was his last work, because the man died suddenly in 1924.[16] The Richard Riordan Central Library complex is the third largest public library in the United States in terms of book and periodical holdings. Originally named the Central Library, the building was first renamed in honor of the longtime president of the Board of Library Commissioners and President of the University of Southern California, Rufus B. von KleinSmid. The new wing of Central Library, completed in 1993, was named in honor of former mayor Tom Bradley.[17] The complex (i.e., the original Goodhue building and the Bradley wing) was subsequently renamed in 2001 for former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, as the Richard Riordan Central Library. The building was burned out by a catastrophic fire in 1986 when a million books and many other records (patents, play scripts, photographs) were damaged or totally destroyed. Arson was suspected but never proved.[18]

Branches

Besides the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles, the system operates 72 branch locations in the city's neighborhoods. Eight of the larger branches are designated "regional branches."

No.NamePhotographAddressZip CodePhoneAreaNeighborhood ServedNotes
01Benjamin Franklin2200 E. First St.90033-3902323-263-6901NortheastBoyle Heights
02Lincoln Heights2530 Workman St.90031-2322323-226-1692NortheastLincoln Heights
03Pío Pico-Koreatown (피오 피코 코리아타운 도서관)694 S. Oxford Ave.90005-2872213-368-7647HollywoodKoreatown
04Vernon4504 S. Central Ave.90011-3632323-234-9106Central SouthernSouth Central
05Arroyo Seco6145 N. Figueroa St.90042-3565323-255-0537NortheastHighland Park/GarvanzaRegional Branch
06Exposition Park3900 S. Western Ave.90062-1111323-290-3113Central SouthernExposition ParkRegional Branch
07Junipero Serra4607 S. Main St.90037-2735323-234-1685Central SouthernSouth Park
08Echo Park1410 W. Temple St.90026-5605213-250-7808NortheastEcho Park
09San Pedro931 S. Gaffey St.90731-3606310-548-7779Central SouthernSan PedroRegional Branch
10Wilmington1300 N. Avalon Blvd.90744-2639310-834-1082Central SouthernWilmington
11Goldwyn Hollywood1623 Ivar Ave.90028-6304323-856-8260HollywoodHollywoodRegional Branch
12John C. Fremont6121 Melrose Ave.90038-3501323-962-3521HollywoodHancock Park
13Westchester-Loyola Village7114 W. Manchester Ave.90045-3509310-348-1096WesternWestchester
14Vermont Square1201 W. 48th St.90037-2838323-290-7405Central SouthernVermont Square
15Pacific Palisades861 Alma Real Dr.90272-3730310-459-2754WesternPacific Palisades
16Donald Bruce Kaufman Brentwood11820 San Vicente Blvd.90049-5002310-575-8273WesternBrentwood
17Jefferson-Vassie D. Wright2211 W. Jefferson Blvd.90018-3741323-734-8573Central SouthernJefferson Park
18Malabar2801 Wabash Ave.90033-2604323-263-1497NortheastBoyle Heights
19Robert Louis Stevenson803 Spence St.90023-1727323-268-4710NortheastBoyle Heights
20Cahuenga4591 Santa Monica Blvd.90029-1937323-664-6418HollywoodEast Hollywood
21El Sereno5226 S. Huntington Dr.90032-1704323-225-9201NortheastEl Sereno
22Palms-Rancho Park2920 Overland Ave.90064-4220323-840-2142WesternPalms & Rancho Park
23Van Nuys6250 Sylmar Ave.91401-2707818-756-8453East ValleyVan Nuys
24Canoga Park20939 Sherman Way91303-1744818-887-0320West ValleyCanoga Park
25Studio City12511 Moorpark St.91604-1372818-755-7873East ValleyStudio City
26Angeles Mesa2700 W. 52nd St.90043-1953323-292-4328Central SouthernHyde Park/Leimert Park
27West Los Angeles11360 Santa Monica Blvd.90025-3152310-575-8323WesternWest Los AngelesRegional Branch
28Cypress Park1150 Cypress Ave.90065-1144323-224-0039NortheastCypress Park
29Wilshire149 N. St. Andrews Pl.90004-4019323-957-4550HollywoodMid-Wilshire
30Ascot120 W. Florence Ave.90003-1805323-759-4817Central SouthernFlorence
31Will & Ariel Durant7140 W. Sunset Blvd.90046-4416323-876-2741HollywoodHollywood
32Eagle Rock5027 Caspar Ave.90041-1901323-258-8078NortheastEagle RockArticle on the former building
33Hyde Park-Miriam Matthews2205 W. Florence Ave.90043-5101323-750-7241WesternHyde Park
34John Muir1005 W. 64th St.90044-3605323-789-4800Central SouthernVermont-Slauson
35Sunland-Tujunga7771 Foothill Blvd.91042-2137818-352-4481East ValleySunland & Tujunga
36Los Feliz1874 Hillhurst Ave.90027-4427323-913-4710HollywoodLos Feliz
37North Hollywood Amelia Earhart5211 Tujunga Ave.91601-3119818-766-7185East ValleyNorth HollywoodRegional Branch
38Mar Vista12006 Venice Blvd.90066-3810310-390-3454WesternMar Vista
39Panorama City14345 Roscoe Blvd.91402-4222818-894-4071East ValleyPanorama City
40Venice-Abbot Kinney501 S. Venice Blvd.90291-4201310-821-1769WesternVenice
41Washington Irving4117 W. Washington Blvd.90018-1053323-734-6303HollywoodArlington Heights/Mid-City
42Robertson Branch Library1719 S. Robertson Blvd.90035-4315310-840-2147WesternBeverlywood/Cheviot Hills/Pico-RobertsonClosed Saturday and open Sunday due to widespread observation of Shabbat in this neighborhood
43Alma Reaves Woods-Watts10205 Compton Ave.90002-2804323-789-2850Central SouthernWatts
44Atwater Village3379 Glendale Blvd.90039-1825323-664-1353HollywoodAtwater Village
45Mark Twain9621 S. Figueroa St.90003-3928323-755-4088Central SouthernVermont Vista
46Baldwin Hills2906 S. La Brea Ave.90016-3902323-733-1196WesternBaldwin Hills
47Encino-Tarzana18231 Ventura Blvd.91356-3630818-343-1983West ValleyEncino & Tarzana
48Felipe de Neve2820 W. 6th St.90057-3114213-384-7676HollywoodWestlake
49Memorial4625 W. Olympic90019-1832323-938-2732HollywoodCountry Club Park
50West Valley19036 Vanowen St.91335-5114818-345-9806West ValleyResedaRegional Branch
51Sherman Oaks14245 Moorpark St.91423-2722818-205-9716East ValleySherman Oaks
52Sun Valley7935 Vineland Ave.91352-4477818-764-1338East ValleySun Valley
53Pacoima13605 Van Nuys Blvd.91331-3613818-899-5203East ValleyPacoima
54Sylmar14561 Polk St.91342-4055818-367-6102East ValleySylmar
55Playa Vista6400 Playa Vista Dr.90094-2168310-437-6680WesternPlaya Vista
56Granada Hills10640 Petit Ave.91344-6452818-368-5687West ValleyGranada Hills
57Valley Plaza12311 Vanowen St.91605-5624818-765-9251East ValleyValley Glen/North HollywoodFormerly known as Vanowen Park Branch
58Woodland Hills22200 Ventura Blvd.91364-1517818-226-0017West ValleyWoodland Hills
59Northridge9051 Darby Ave.91325-2743818-886-3640West ValleyNorthridge
60Chatsworth21052 Devonshire St.91311-2314818-341-4276West ValleyChatsworth
61Fairfax161 S. Gardner St.90036-2717323-936-6191HollywoodFairfax
62Lake View Terrace12002 Osborne St.91342-7221818-890-7404East ValleyLake View Terrace
63Chinatown639 N. Hill St.90012-2317213-620-0925NortheastChinatown
64Little Tokyo203 S. Los Angeles St.90012-3704213-612-0525NortheastLittle Tokyo
65Platt23600 Victory Blvd.91367-1349818-340-9386West ValleyWest Hills
66Mid-Valley Regional16244 Nordhoff St.91343-3806818-895-3650West ValleyNorth HillsRegional Branch
67Porter Ranch11371 Tampa Ave.91326-1729818-360-5706West ValleyPorter Ranch
68Harbor City-Harbor Gateway24000 S. Western Ave.90710-1741310-534-9520Central SouthernHarbor City & Harbor Gateway
69Edendale2011 W. Sunset Blvd.90026-3122213-207-3000NortheastEcho Park
70Pico-Union 1030 S. Alvarado St.90006-3712213-368-7545HollywoodPico-Union
71Westwood1246 Glendon Ave.90024-4914310-474-1739WesternWestwood
72Silver Lake2411 Glendale Blvd.90039-3217323-913-7451NortheastSilver Lake 

High school diploma

The library offers an online program that allows adult patrons who have not completed high school to earn their high school diploma.[19]

Special services

TESSA is Los Angeles Public Library online historical collections. TESSA is named after Tessa Kelso, Los Angeles City Librarian from 1889 to 1895.[20]

In 2023, the library issued a limited-edition library card featuring the mountain lion P-22 in a National Geographic photo with the Hollywood Sign in the background.[21]

Awards
"Parasol Library in Pershing Square" circa 1938, photographed for the Federal Writers' Project

The Los Angeles Public Library received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation's highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community.[22] City Librarian John F. Szabo and community member Sergio Sanchez accepted the award on behalf of the library from First Lady Michelle Obama during a White House Ceremony on May 20, 2015.

The Los Angeles Public Library was selected for its success in meeting the needs of Angelenos and providing a level of social, educational, and cultural services unmatched by any other public institution in the city. The award recognizes the library's programs that help people on their path to citizenship, earn their high school diploma, manage personal finances and access health and well-being services and resources.[23]

See also

References
  1. Martin Gomez (February 2010). "City Librarian's Report to Friends Groups". Los Angeles Public Library. Archived from the original (.PPS) on June 20, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  2. "Los Angeles Library Foundation - Annual Report 2008-2009". Library Foundation of Los Angeles. 2009. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  3. "Los Angeles Public Library Facts 2013 (for fiscal year 2012-13) | Los Angeles Public Library". www.lapl.org. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  4. Szabo, John (2015). "LAPL Strategic Plan 2015-2020" (PDF). Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  5. "Board of Library Commissioners | Los Angeles Public Library". www.lapl.org. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  6. Pitt, Leonard; Pitt, Dale (1997). Los Angeles A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the City and County. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. p. 300>. ISBN 0-520-20274-0.
  7. Orlean, Susan (2018a). The Library Book. London: Atlantic Books. pp. 125, 129, 132, 139–143, 173, 174, 198, 203, 307. ISBN 978-1-78239-225-5. OCLC 1084749272.
  8. Soter, Bernadette Dominique (1993). The light of learning: an illustrated history of the Los Angeles Public Library. Los Angeles: Library Foundation of Los Angeles. pp. 19–20.
  9. Debra Gold Hansen; Karen F. Gracy; Sheri D. Irvin (1999). "At the Pleasure of the Board: Women Librarians and the Los Angeles Public Library, 1880–1905". Libraries & Culture. University of Texas Press. 34 (4, Fall 1999): 311–346. JSTOR 25548763.
  10. Hansen, D.G.; Gracy, K.F.; Irvin, S.D. (1999). "At the pleasure of the Board: women librarians and the Los Angeles Public Library, 1880–1905". Libraries & Culture. 34 (4): 311–346.
  11. Orlean 2018a, pp. 132, 139–143.
  12. Beyelia, Nicholas (March 21, 2018). "The Great Library War of 1905, Part 1: Have you met Miss Jones?". Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) blog. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  13. Standard Guide to Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Panama-California Exposition. Press Association. 1914.
  14. "EARLY HISTORY, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE GOODHUE BUILDING | Los Angeles Public Library". www.lapl.org. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  15. Orlean 2018b, p. 3.
  16. "Центральна бібліотека Лос-Анджелеса — унікальний храм знань - la-future.com". February 6, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  17. "TOM BRADLEY WING: HISTORY AND DESIGN | Los Angeles Public Library". www.lapl.org. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  18. Orlean, Susan (2018b). The Library Book. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4767-4018-8.
  19. Toppo, Greg (June 2, 2014). "Libraries' choice: Change or fade into oblivion". USA Today. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  20. "About". tessa.lapl.org. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  21. Von Quednow, Cindy; Riesmeyer, Andy (February 23, 2023). "Los Angeles Public Library releases limited-edition library card honoring P-22". KTLA. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  22. "Los Angeles Public Library wins top award for cultural institutions". latimes.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  23. "National Medal for Museum and Library Service | Los Angeles Public Library". www.lapl.org. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
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