The Library will be closed on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in observance of Easter

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Central Library

Central Library Exterior
Address:
630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone:
213-228-7000
Email:
Contact form
Librarian:
Kren Malone, Director

Hours of Service

Mon: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Tues: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Weds: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thurs: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fri: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sat: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sun: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Upcoming Events at Central Library
Baby sits on a colorful floor in front of an equally colorful parachute.
Thursday mornings at 11 a.m.
Activities and play to help babies 0-18 months and their parents/caregivers bond. For more information, please contact children@lapl.org.

globe with rainbow stack of language books
Thursdays at 12:30 p.m.
Russian for Beginners.

globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Thursdays at 12:30 p.m.
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...

Four people singing
Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.
An interactive program of conscious breathing, vocal exercises, improvisation, and music, Neighborhood Sing promotes self-expression...

people looking at a computer screen
March 28, 2024 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Bring your own device (smartphone, laptop, tablet) to our Drop-in Computer/Device Help session, where staff can assist with basic issues...

woman with head in hands staring at a laptop
March 28, 2024 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Join us for the first of a special ALOUD series on AI, where we take a compelling look into the interaction between young people and AI...

Hanging lanterns and lights
Fridays from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Are you ready to embark on a journey of language discovery? Then sign up to join us on our next exciting session designed for beginners in...

Globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Fridays at 12:30 p.m.
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...

various vegetables in a box that is being held by someone
March 30, 2024 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Learn how to grow your own food, get tips on nutritious cooking, and explore education and job opportunities in the agriculture sector. In...

Globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...



What We're Reading


Recent Blog Posts from LAPL Blog
March 28, 2024
By Daryl M., Librarian
Sophie Wan is a Bay Area native who is now battling the winters in Philadelphia. She graduated from UC Berkeley and spends far too much time drafting emails and drinking tea. Women of Good Fortune is... Continued
March 22, 2024
By Nicholas Beyelia, Librarian
The Derringer Press Conference The Derringer press conference is what Judge Cannon became infamous for, and the blowback would be mighty. The popular narrative often goes something like this: Judge... Continued
March 21, 2024
By Daryl M., Librarian
Shubnum Khan is a South African author and artist. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times; McSweeney’s Quarterly; HuffPost; O, The Oprah Magazine; The Sunday Times (London); Marie Claire; and... Continued
March 20, 2024
By Christina Rice, Senior Librarian
At the Vernon - Leon H. Washington Jr. Memorial Branch Library, there is a wall in the meeting room adorned with four framed portraits. Two are paintings: one depicts writer Langston Hughes and is a... Continued

Meeting Rooms

The Literature & Fiction (Upper Level 3) and Business Department (Lower Level 1) have glass-enclosed meeting rooms available for use.

Guidelines

  • Meeting Room hours
    Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
    Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Sunday: 1 - 4:30 p.m.
  • Sign ups on the hour or half hour
  • Must have a valid library card
  • Reservations must be made in person, day of and up to one day in advance
  • Two hours per floor per patron
  • Water allowed. No food or drink
  • Three or more people required for large (6 chair) rooms
  • Furniture and chairs must not be moved
  • Dry erase markers and erasers available upon request
  • All library rules apply: Patrons in violation of library rules may be refused service.

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