Come downtown and visit Los Angeles Public Library's state of the art Central Library. Enjoy the art and architecture of the wonderful Goodhue Building with its distinctive sphinxes and rooftop pyramid. Wander through the high-tech. Bradley Wing, designed by famed architect Norman Pfeiffer, and gaze at the 8-story atrium with its whimsical chandeliers. Learn about the library's comprehensive book, magazine, audio and videotape collections as well as its extensive network of informational databases. Free docent tours are given daily. Call (213) 228-7168 or e-mail for more information.

Daily Walk-In Tours

Daily Walk-In Tours of the Central Library last approximately one hour. No reservations are necessary for groups of ten or less. The tours leave from the front of the Library Store in the main lobby accessible via the Fifth Street, Hope Street, and Flower Street entrances. Tour times are:

Monday - Friday	12:30 pm
Saturday	11:00 am & 2:00 pm
Sunday	2:00 pm

If these times are not convenient, please print this Self-Guided Tour to make your visit to the Central Library more enjoyable.

Tours & Programs for Elementary Schools

Elementary schools are invited to make appointments to visit Central Library's Children's Literature Department on:

Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m.

The visit includes a thirty minute tour of Central Library and a thirty minute program in the Children's Literature Department. Following the program, students are free to browse for books and check out materials. Check out of materials may add an additional 45 minutes to the visit.

For classes to receive library cards and check out materials on the day of the visit, library card applications must be mailed and processed by the library a minimum of 15 days before the visit. One library card is used at the Central Library and all of the 67 branches of the Los Angeles Public Library system. If students already have a Los Angeles Public Library card, they will not be issued another one. If a student has lost a card and would like another, please note this on the application.

In order to make an appointment for the tour and program, contact the Docent Office at (213) 228-7055. This number is a voice mailbox which explains the procedure for booking a visit and allows a message to be left. It is much easier for the Docent Office to make contact with teachers if two different phone numbers are given. Once an appointment has been made, a confirmation letter regarding the visit will be mailed from the Children's Literature Department. If there are any questions, please call (213) 228-7250.

Young Adult Tours

Middle and high school classes are also invited to visit the Central Library. Teen'Scape, a special area in the Central Library just for young adults, offers a wide variety of specially selected books and magazines, ranging from light reading to career and college-selection information and "Hot Topics." Computers are available for homework, research and fun.

The approximately one-hour tour will introduce the resources of Central Library to students and show them the wide range of information at their command, including internet access. To arrange a tour, please call (213) 228-7168.

ESL Tours

Library tours highlighting the language resources at the Central Library are available for groups for whom English is their second language. Tours are given in English and can be booked by calling the Docent Office at (213) 228-7168.

Reserved Tours and the Maguire Gardens

Reserved Tours for groups of six or more can be arranged by calling the Docent Office at (213) 228-7168. Reserved tours last approximately one hour and include the art and architecture of both the historic 1926 Goodhue Building and the new Bradley Wing.

Tours of the Maguire Gardens, located directly outside the Flower Street entrance, can also be requested. This adds approximately fifteen minutes to the total tour time.

Please note that reserved tours are arranged at times different from those of the daily walk-in tours. Tours can also be tailored to the interests of your group, using the many resources of Central Library's collections.

The Docents look forward to seeing you soon!

If you would like to become a docent, please complete this application .