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Author D.J. Waldie and his latest book, Elements of Los Angeles: Earth, Water, Air, Fire
Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, December 11, 2025

D.J. Waldie is a historian of Los Angeles, a memoirist, and a translator. He is the author of Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir (1995),...

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Author Eve Babitz

Eve Babitz and the Hollywood Library

Angi Brzycki, Senior Librarian, Digitization & Special Collections, Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Novelist and essayist Eve Babitz grew up in Hollywood. Her work focuses on essay memoirs centered in Los Angeles, particularly in the sixties and early seventies.


Ryan La Sala and his debut novel, Reverie

Interview With an Author: Ryan La Sala

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, February 13, 2020

Ryan La Sala grew up in Connecticut, but only physically.


three examples of romance book cover art featuring couples embracing passionately

Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Steamy Romance Cover Art

Christa Deitrick, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Wednesday, February 12, 2020

One of the coolest things about working at the Central Library is getting to be around our amazing collection. We have amassed quite a few books since we opened our doors in 1926—the Fiction collection alone boasts over 375,000 titles!


Collage of books

Books From the Border

Lupita Leyva, Senior Librarian, Robert Louis Stevenson Branch Library, Thursday, February 6, 2020

In recent days, the literary world has been rocked by controversy.


zine collage of Valerie J. Bower

Interview With a Zine Maker: Valerie J. Bower

Angi Brzycki, Senior Librarian, Digitization & Special Collections, Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Valerie J. Bower is a Los Angeles based photographer. Valerie describes her work as dream-like, monochrome street photography that shows a softer, feminine point of view on typically masculine themes and subjects.


Gina Hemphill running with the olympic torch

Going for the Gold: African Americans and the Games of the XXIII Olympiad

Christina Rice, Senior Librarian, Photo Collection, Monday, February 3, 2020

We have to wait until the summer of 2028 for Los Angeles to host the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, but when we do, we will join Paris and London as only the third city to host the Summer Games three times, having previously done so in 1932 and famously, in 1984.


Miri Koral Director of the California Institute for Yiddish Culture

Coming to America: Miri Koral's Immigrant Story and the Role of Yiddish in Her Life

Wendy Westgate, Librarian, Exploration & Creativity Department, Friday, January 31, 2020

Miri Koral is the Founding Director of the California Institute for Yiddish Culture and Language and a native speaker of Yiddish. She will be facilitating the book discussions for the Yiddish Book Center's "Coming to America" Reading Groups for Public Libraries, starting in February.


Chris McCormick and his latest book, The Gimmicks

Interview With an Author: Chris McCormick

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, January 30, 2020

Chris McCormick is the author of a collection of stories, Desert Boys, winner of the 2017 Stonewall Book Award.


Kobe Bryant reads a book with The Last Bookstore's book tunnel in the background

Kobe's Bookshelf

Keith Kesler, Social Media Librarian, Public Relations Department, Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Kobe Bryant’s post-basketball life was dedicated to inspiring young people through storytelling.


Exterior view of the Lincoln Heights Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library

Helping Everyone to Help Themselves - Andrew Carnegie and Libraries

Photo Friends, Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835 and immigrated to the United States in 1848. Landing in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, 13-year-old Andrew Carnegie started working as a bobbin boy, changing spools of thread in a cotton mill. He worked twelve hours a day, six days a week.


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