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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
Map for Central Library Branch

Click map for detailed view, directions, and transit info.

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
A volunteer tutor working with a learner.
Every Friday at 11 a.m.
Walk-in Tutor With Patrick
Would you like to improve your reading, writing, or conversation skills? Adults can work with a tutor for 15-20 minutes. Walk-in tutoring...
Hanging lanterns and lights
Fridays from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Chinese for Beginners
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...
Scales of justice
April 19, 2024 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Judges in the Community: An Introduction to Los Angeles County Civil Courts
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Curtis A.
Globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Fridays at 12:30 p.m.
Docent-led L.A. Central Library Art & Architecture Tour
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...
A tutor with a learner reviewing a book
Fridays at 1 p.m.
Walk-in Tutoring With Lauren
Would you like to improve your reading, writing, or conversation skills? Adults can work with a tutor for 20 minutes. Walk-in tutoring is...
Image of books in various colors
3rd Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m.
Used Book Sale
Sales feature hundreds of used books, magazines, and DVDs and are sponsored by the Central Library support groups: Central Library Docents...
a child looking at a laptop screen
April 20, 2024 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
3D Modeling & Printing for Children
Children and their families will learn how 3D printers work and design their projects using Tinkercad, a free web app for 3D design....
Joan Nathan and Barbara Fairchild
April 20, 2024 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Joan Nathan - Trends in Cookbook Writing, 1970s to Now - in Conversation With Barbara Fairchild (Culinary Historians of Southern California)
Cookbooks have evolved over the last 50 years from straightforward recipe guides to books more reflective of the personalities, ethnicities...
Globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Docent-led Central Library Art & Architecture Tour
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...
an ukulele with musical notes in a tropical underwater theme
The 3rd Saturday of Every Month from 11 a.m. - 12 noon
Ukulele Class for Beginners
Learn the basics and play songs on the ukulele. Bring your own ukulele or use one of ours. No registration is required.
More Events at Central Library


What We're Reading

LAPL Reads: Recommendations | Book Lists | New Books | Catalog

Recent Blog Posts from LAPL Blog
April 18, 2024
Interview With an Author: Christina Estes
By Daryl M., Librarian
Christina Estes is an award-winning reporter who has spent more than 20 years covering crime, public policy, and business in Phoenix, Arizona. Her reporting has been heard on National Public Radio (... Continued
April 17, 2024
The Blassingame Handbooks: Imagined Futures, Dreams and Wishes From the Past
By Angela B. Charles, Library Assistant
"Art is humanity’s greatest tool for insight."Many things get lost in time. The power that book artists’ wield is their ability to conjure up the lost. And at their disposal are an array of... Continued
April 15, 2024
A Library Tool Kit for Neurodivergent Kids
By Meredith Sires, Children's Librarian
If you're the parent or caregiver of a neurodivergent child, you're probably very familiar with the search for the right tools. The right tools for school, the right tools for bathtime, the right... Continued
April 11, 2024
Interview With an Author: Sulari Gentill
By Daryl M., Librarian
After setting out to study astrophysics, graduating in law and then abandoning her legal career to write books, Sulari Gentill now grows French black truffles on her farm in the foothills of the... Continued

All Posts from LAPL Blog

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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