LAPL Blog

Latest Posts

10 book covers with a bow around them
Multilingual Collections, Librarian, December 13, 2025

Description: El mejor regalo que puedes ofrecer durante las festividades de invierno es un libro. Si necesitas ideas sobre qué libros regalar (o regalarte a ti mismo), aquí te presentamos los títulos preferidos por nuestros lectores y bibliotecarios en el 2025.

Y si tu resolución para fin de año es leer más, te recomendamos que agregues estos libros a tu lista de lecturas pendientes....

Pages

Exterior view of the Flower street entrance of the library

Long Lost Lucretius Poem Still Resonates

Central Docents, Central Library, Friday, April 22, 2016

If you've taken one of our free library tours, we've probably pointed out the quotation over the Flower Street entrance from Lucretius:

“Like runners they bear on the lamp of life."


Ernie Pyle & National Columnists’ Day

Llyr Heller, Senior Librarian, Acquisitions, Tuesday, April 19, 2016

April 18th marks National Columnists’ Day, started in memory of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Ernie Pyle, who was killed in World War II. His eloquence in his subject matter, the lives of everyday men in the world of war, struck a chord in America.


tin typeClara Shortridge Foltz

Who the Heck is Clara Shortridge Foltz?

Kelly Wallace, Librarian, History Department, Monday, March 21, 2016

Who hasn’t received that notice in the mail—the one that commands you to report for jury duty at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center?


Luis J Rodriguez

Why Children Should Not be Treated as Adults for Crimes

Luis J. Rodriguez, Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Walk with the young, America;
be young, again, America,
among the defiant and awake,
solid in their dreams.
Be the revolution in the marrow
where passions, ideals, fervors,
purpose and courage,
are not just qualities
people had in history books,


woman in front of phone operator board

Celebrating Women's History Month With the Canoga Rockettes

Christina Rice, Senior Librarian, Photo Collection, Tuesday, March 1, 2016

The post-War era brought exponential growth to the San Fernando Valley, transforming the region into the quintessential suburbs.


Slave Premiums table

An Unusual Resource for African American Genealogy

Julie Huffman, Librarian, History & Genealogy Department, Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Insurance companies have long provided policies to cover losses of property but, before the end of the Civil War, this also included pay-outs for injury and death of the formerly enslaved.


Maya Angelou and Tupac Shakur

From Maya Angelou to Tupac Shakur: Spotlight on African-American Poets

Christa Deitrick, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Monday, February 22, 2016

Among the many treasures in the Literature & Fiction department is our poetry collection, which clocks in at around 20,000 titles. Since February is African-American Heritage Month, what better time to spotlight a few of these fabulous poets?


Parapet Walkway below Pyramid of central library

Hidden Spaces and Forgotten Places in the Library

Central Docents, Central Library, Monday, February 8, 2016

Have you ever climbed the old marble staircase in our Central Library and, glancing up, spied a lit window cozily lined with books and plants?


Sanborn Fire Insurance Atlas, Sheet 469, 1950.

Central Avenue: Dunbar Hotel

Glen Creason, Librarian III, History & Genealogy Department, Tuesday, February 2, 2016

As a salute to African American Heritage Month we present a brief glance at the epicenter of Central Avenue in the once glamorous and glorious Dunbar Hotel.


part of Maguire Gardens’ SPINE sculptor

Sculptor Jud Fine Reflects on the Maguire Gardens’ SPINE

Central Docents, Central Library, Monday, January 4, 2016

The incised metal steps that lead from Flower Street to the Central Library are part of an “art plan integrated with an architectural plan” now known as “Spine,” and the highlight of The Maguire Gardens. It is “not an installation or a sole art project,” says primary artist, Jud Fine.


Pages

Top