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Three librarians are pictured in front of the burning Central Library
Librarians Billie Connor, Helene Mochedlover, and Katie Leidich sit across the street from Central Library during the Fire. Leo Jarzomb/Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection
Christina Rice, Senior Librarian, Photo Collection, April 29, 2026

As we spend the year commemorating the centennial of Central Library, it's also necessary to acknowledge a less celebratory, but still important milestone—the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Central Library Fire. The blaze, which ignited shortly before 11 a.m. on April 29, took over seven hours to extinguish and claimed roughly 400,000 books due to fire, smoke, or water damage. The tragic event...

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comic panel of comic librarians

Superheros In Your Library

Violet (Vee) Zalkind, Administrative Clerk, Studio City Branch Library, Thursday, September 12, 2019

“Let’s have a campaign…every child should obtain a library card and use it”.


8 book covers of cats

Children’s Books With Cattitude

Caitlin Quinn, Children's Librarian, Eagle Rock Branch Library, Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Cats and good story telling go together like, well, bagels and cream cheese. Children’s book authors and illustrators know this, resulting in no shortage of stories starring some adorable, clever, and often mischievous furry friends.


Alix E. Harrow and her first novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Interview With an Author: Alix E. Harrow

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, September 5, 2019

Alix E. Harrow is a part-time historian with a full-time desk job, a lot of opinions, and excessive library fines.


Walking in the rain by the Warner Downtown

Nobody Walks in L.A.

Tina Lernø, Librarian, Digital Content Team, Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA; walkin' in LA; walkin' in LA, only a nobody walks in LA—Terry Bozzio, Missing Persons


roses and a rhinestone crown for a quinceañera

Tiempo de vals, tiempo para sentir (Mis quince años)

Patricia Valdovinos, Librarian, Multilingual Collections, Friday, August 30, 2019

*las luces se apagan ... y se ilumina la pista*
* doo, doo, doo, bum, bum, una cuerda de piano, algunos tambores, doo, doo, bum, bum ... *
Y….
Tiempo de vals
tiempo para sentir ...

*unas palabras que no recuerdo aquí*
Es tiempo de vivir.


Tim Mason and his first adult novel, The Darwin Affair

Interview With an Author: Tim Mason

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, August 22, 2019

Tim Mason is a playwright whose work has been produced in New York and throughout the world. Among the awards he has received are a Kennedy Center Award, the Hollywood Drama-Logue Award, a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Rockefeller Foundation grant.


young man in tank top running away from another man

Interview With a Director: Matt Porterfield

Neale Stokes, Senior Librarian, Digital Content Team, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Matt Porterfield has written and directed four feature films, all set in his hometown of Baltimore. His latest, Sollers Point, tells the story of a young man just released from prison and living under house arrest with his father.


3 graphic novel book covers

Drawing on the Classics

Violet (Vee) Zalkind, Administrative Clerk, Studio City Branch Library, Tuesday, August 20, 2019

It’s back-to-school time! Time to sharpen up your pencils, meet your new teachers, and grab your list of classics to read for homework. Time to put away those comic books and graphic novels in favor of “serious” literature, right? Wrong!


Lobby card from the original 1939 release of The Wizard of Oz featuring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr

Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, Oh My!

Daniel Tures, Adult Librarian, Edendale Branch Library, Thursday, August 15, 2019

Once upon a time in Hollywoodland, 80 years ago today, The Wizard of Oz had its Hollywood Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.


Del Howison and his first novel, The Survival of Margaret Thomas

Interview With an Author: Del Howison

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, August 8, 2019

Del Howison is an award-winning editor, journalist, fiction author, and actor. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award four times (and won it once), for the Black Quill Award twice, for the Shirley Jackson Award and for the Rondo Hatton Award.


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