If someone identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community, there’s a strong possibility they grew up without role models who reflected their gender identity or orientation. It’s possible they didn’t "meet" another person like themselves until they picked up a book. This discovery can be life-changing for the queer reader who just realized their experiences are more common than they thought, or...
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, Los Angeles Public Library, May 31, 2026
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Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, Oh My!
Once upon a time in Hollywoodland, 80 years ago today, The Wizard of Oz had its Hollywood Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
Interview With an Author: Del Howison
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.
Helter Skelter in the Summer of 1969
1969 was a tumultuous year. The US Apollo 11 mission brought men to the moon, and the Beatles gave their final live performance. Richard Nixon was sworn in as President, the war raged on in Vietnam (along with huge protests), and the draft was reinstated.
Bringing the Heat!
Photo Friends, Tuesday, July 30, 2019
The Los Angeles basin cannot escape the fact that its climate tends to extremes, particularly of the hot variety. Global warming and galloping urbanization have exacerbated the situation Temperatures have increased over the past century, while heatwaves are becoming ever more common and last longer.
Video: Navigating L.A. in the Pre-GPS Era
Before the advent of GPS and smartphones, residents of Los Angeles were wholly dependent on the street guide to navigate their sprawling metropolis. In this video, map librarian Glen Creason explores the history of the L.A. street guide, and explains why they are still relevant today:
Interview With an Author: Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston grew up in the swamps of Southern Louisiana, where they cultivated an abiding love for honey butter biscuits and stories with big, beating hearts.
![Color postcard of California Alligator Farm, in Los Angeles [ca.1911]](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/whats_on_list_120x90/public/blogs/2019-07/gatorbabyfarmheader.jpg?itok=8QtCS0GM "Color postcard of California Alligator Farm with a baby surrounded by baby alligators, in Los Angeles [ca.1911]")
Bring the Kids! Fun at the California Alligator Farm
Before Mickey and his Magic Kingdom, there was Billie the Alligator and his reptilian pals at the California Alligator Farm.
Interview With an Author: Sarah Gailey
Hugo award winner Sarah Gailey lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Their nonfiction has been published by Mashable and the Boston Globe, and their fiction has been published internationally.
Going With the Flow: The Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial
It’s been over forty years, but the water is flowing again at the Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial.
What the 4th of July Looked Like in Vintage Los Angeles
Independence Day aka the Fourth of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen (American) colonies were no longer subject to Great Britain's rule, but were united, free, and independent states.