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Films and their adapted books
Elizabeth Graney, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, December 5, 2025

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times—the book was better! There's nothing like debating the differences between a favorite book and its translation to the screen. But if you don't know your beloved series is coming out as a movie or that the fun-looking preview you saw was adapted from a book, how can you join the debate? The Library is here to the rescue! Here, we will be...

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Author Elizabeth Little and her latest book, Pretty as a Picture

Interview With an Author: Elizabeth Little

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, July 9, 2020

Elizabeth Little is the author of Dear Daughter, which won the Strand Critics Award for Best First Novel, and two works of nonfiction, Biting the Wax Tadpo


Collage of famous authors

Read it First: Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Elizabeth Graney, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Last month we took a look at the lives of famous authors as shown in popular films. And while that was a fun way to learn more about the authors we know and love, we all know that sometimes films take creative license to make their stories more interesting.


Collage of American cuisine books

Yours? Mine? Ours? Yes! We Call It American Cuisine

Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction, Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Other than indigenous peoples, we are a nation of immigrants, those who came by choice and those who came by force. As our country keeps growing and changing with new people arriving all the time, what we eat changes too. Like our country, American cuisine is never static.


Author and chemist, Dr. Kathryn Harkup and her latest book, Death By Shakespeare

Interview With an Author: Kathryn Harkup

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, July 2, 2020

Dr. Kathryn Harkup is a chemist and author. She completed a doctorate on her favorite chemicals, phosphines, and went on to further postdoctoral research before realizing that talking, writing, and demonstrating science appealed a bit more than hours slaving over a hot fume-hood.


Glean Creason from 1984

Of Friends: A Librarian Reflects

Glen Creason, Librarian III, History & Genealogy Department, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Libraries are empty of customers and that is sad as hell. Sad for library workers who not only love the musty smell of the stacks but also the everyday challenges of actual patrons!


Collage of books based on Los Angeles neighborhoods

The California Fiction Index: Invitation to Explore Los Angeles Neighborhoods

James Sherman, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Aldous Huxley described Los Angeles as “nineteen suburbs in search of a metropolis"—and didn’t mean it as a compliment. In fact, the diversity of Los Angeles is one of its greatest strengths. The Los Angeles Times mapping project claims there are 114 neighborhoods in the city of Los Angeles.


Colorized photo of gay fathers march down Santa Monica Boulevard during the 17th annual Gay Pride Parade

Anniversary of Pride

Anne Olivier, Adult Librarian, Woodland Hills Branch Library, Friday, June 26, 2020

On June 28, 1970, the very first Pride Parade in Los Angeles was held on Hollywood Boulevard, one year after the Stonewall uprising in New York City.


Author Zen Cho and her latest novel, The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water

Interview With an Author: Zen Cho

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, June 25, 2020

Zen Cho is the author of the Sorcerer to the Crown,


Collage of autobiographical audiobooks

Autobiographical Audiobooks, Read by the Author

James Sherman, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Actor biographies are consistently one of the most popular parts of the Literature Department holdings. The extremely large collection features biographies and autobiographies of film stars, comedians, and television performers.


Octavia Butler

Becoming Octavia

Sara Rebman, Librarian, Children's Literature Department, Wednesday, June 24, 2020

As the month of June comes to an end, we are celebrating the first anniversary of the Octavia Lab and Octavia E.


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