On This Day: May 8

Welcome to ON THIS DAY! Each day, we'll look at a few moments from history and popular culture. We'll show you where you can rediscover classic movies and music, or read more about great moments in history. We'll point you to e-books, downloadable and streamable music, e-audio, magazines, and of course, we haven't forgotten about physical books or DVDs.

	On this day in 1846, composer Oscar Hammerstein II was born. Among the classic musicals he wrote with Richard Rodgers is the musical-for-television Cinderella. You can stream the 1965 version, starring Lesley Ann Warren, at Hoopla.
	Jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Mary Lou Williams was born on this day in 1910. Her album At Rick's Cafe Americain is available for streaming or download at Freegal.
	And California poet Gary Snyder was born on this day in 1930. Choose any of his several volumes of poetry from our collection, and you're sure to be delighted.

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The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest most diverse population of any library in the United States.

Through its Central Library and 72 branches, the Los Angeles Public Library provides free and easy access to information, ideas, books and technology that enrich, educate and empower every individual in our city's diverse communities.

With more people than ever before using the library—a record 17 million last year alone—your support helps the Library provide people with the resources they need to succeed and thrive.

How to support the Library

You can support the Los Angeles Public Library in several ways:

Join a “Friends” group. There is a “Friends of the Library” group for most branch libraries and departments of the Central Library. Friends groups raise money for improvements to their library through memberships, used book sales and other activities. For more information click here or talk to your local librarian.

Join the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. The Library Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds for Library enhancement programs such as adult and early literacy, children and teen reading clubs, technology, and cultural programs. Foundation members receive a variety of benefits with their membership. For more information, see http://www.lfla.org.

Make a donation by check to the Los Angeles Public Library and send it to:
Support the Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles CA 90071 or call (213) 228-7555.