Central Library Centennial Festival

The Central Library Centennial Festival kicks off with a ribbon cutting and remarks from our City Librarian, John F. Szabo, and a recitation by Los Angeles Poet Laureate, Brian Sonia-Wallace.

A dynamite 1920s-1960s Jazz, Swing, Bossa Nova, Latin, and Rock 'n' Roll band specializing in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Get ready for an elegantly silly time with the bilingual (English & Spanish), swingin’ sounds of Grammy Award-winning band Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats! Family members from 0 to 122 will find themselves lighter and smiling through and through!

Capacity is limited, and we’ve arranged for overflow viewing rooms or watch with us live on YouTube.

Join the creators of the Los Angeles Central Library POPS: Celebrating a Century of the Light of Learning in conversation about the development and design of their brand-new pop-up book!

The program will be followed by a book signing at the Angel City Press booth in the Children’s Courtyard.

Stories, songs, and the official Central 100 Puppet Show!

Teaching Artist Rachel Curry will guide workshop participants in creating original carousel books, a type of pop-up book with cut-and-layered paper panels that can be displayed in a circular structure reminiscent of a carousel ride.

This program is now full and will no longer accept registrations.

Make your own commemorative Central 100 button inspired by new and vintage designs.

Take a 45-minute tour of Special Collections and view some of the Los Angeles Public Library’s rare and archival materials. Meet on the 3rd floor outside Literature & Fiction. Capacity of 15 people per tour.

David Bunn will discuss his piece A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place (1993), in which he transformed the library's obsolete card catalog into a functional work of art that transports visitors through the eight floors of the Tom Bradley Wing.

L.A. Taiko Ichiza is a dynamic Japanese drumming ensemble that will bring the power, precision, and spirit of taiko to the Centennial Festival.

Join New York Times bestselling illustrator and Pura Belpré Honor recipient Leo Espinosa for a special bilingual storytime featuring My Papa Has a Red Mustache, his joyful author-illustrator debut.

After the reading, Leo will share a live drawing demonstration and offer a behind-the-scenes look at how he creates the bold, colorful illustrations that bring his stories to life. Perfect for young readers, soccer fans, and families of all ages!

Ries Niemi will discuss his piece The Literate Fence (1993), a metal sculpture that combines language, subjects, and design elements of Central Library into a practical fence that frames the courtyards running along 5th Street. 

Bob Baker Marionette Theater is an iconic Los Angeles institution that has served its community with creativity, joy, and imagination since 1963.

Nearly eight years after its publication, Susan Orlean’s The Library Book continues to enthrall readers with its exploration of the Los Angeles Public Library and the unsolved 1986 Central Library arson fires. Orlean, in conversation with City Librarian John F. Szabo, reflects on the book's success and its continued resonance with people around the world. 

This event will begin with the unveiling of Gajin Fujita’s new painting, "100 Years L.A. Central Library," created to commemorate Central 100. Following the author talk, we will sing “Happy Birthday” and celebrate with cake!

Capacity is limited, and we’ve arranged overflow viewing rooms, or you can watch live on YouTube.

Take a 45-minute tour of Special Collections and view some of the Los Angeles Public Library’s rare and archival materials. Meet on the 3rd floor outside Literature & Fiction. Capacity of 15 people per tour.

Come and learn about the wonderful art and architecture of the Los Angeles Central Library building with author and historian Stephen Gee.

The program will be followed by a book signing at the Angel City Press booth in the Children’s Courtyard.

How fast can you build a 39-piece mini Central Library tower made of toy bricks? Stop by and make your own keepsake while supplies last! 

Stories, songs, and the official Central 100 Puppet Show!

Renee Petropoulos will discuss her mural, The Seven Centers (1993), which draws its inspiration from the art and architecture of the Central Library. Located on the lobby ceiling, this was the only public art piece from the renovation and expansion to be included in the 1926 Central Library building.

LA's all-female mariachi band will bring the vibrant, powerful sounds of traditional Mexican music to the Centennial Festival.

Party like it’s 1993 with everyone’s favorite California chronicler as we relive the excitement of Central Library’s reopening with this special screening of Visiting... With Huell Howser filmed entirely during the opening day festivities. This screening was made possible by KCET.

Meet internationally acclaimed artist Gajin Fujita, designer of the Library’s 2019 library card, and receive a signed limited-edition bookmark featuring his new painting, "100 Years L.A. Central Library," created to commemorate Central 100.

Take a 45-minute tour of Special Collections and view some of the Los Angeles Public Library’s rare and archival materials. Meet on the 3rd floor outside Literature & Fiction. Capacity of 15 people per tour.

Therman Statom will discuss his three chandeliers that dominate the Atrium of the Tom Bradley Wing. Representing the natural, technological, and metaphysical spheres of existence, the massive works of art each weigh 1,750 pounds.

Award-winning author/illustrator (and this year’s Summer with the Library artist) Dan Santat will discuss his writing and illustrating career, including his newest titles, Don’t Trust Fish and A Fishboy Named... Sashimi.

The program will be followed by a book signing in the KLOS Theater.

Join Teaching Artist JT Bruns for an afternoon of collage and haiku-making inspired by the lasting impact of public libraries.

Participants will explore the connection between visual art and poetry by creating original works that combine spontaneous haiku writing with collage, stamps, and mixed media. Drawing inspiration from the Central Library’s history, community, and creative spirit, attendees will leave with their own unique artwork while contributing to a collective celebration of shared experiences and creativity.

The Urban Voices Project Choir is composed of artists and performers from the Skid Row neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles. They share the healing power of music with audiences to raise awareness about the condition of homelessness, mental health inequities, and socio-economic inequalities.

Learn about the making of the first children’s book about Los Angeles Central Library with the author and illustrator of L is for Librarian: The ABCs of Los Angeles Central Library. Author Susan Lendroth and illustrator Alexander Vidal will be in conversation about how they created this love letter to Central Library that is jam-packed with unique facts, interesting history, and gorgeous visuals.

The program will be followed by a book signing at the Angel City Press booth in the Children’s Courtyard.

Party like it’s 1993 with everyone’s favorite California chronicler as we relive the excitement of Central Library’s reopening with this special screening of Visiting... With Huell Howser filmed entirely during the opening day festivities. This screening made possible by KCET.

Stories, songs, and the official Central 100 Puppet Show!

A performance featuring members of the current class as well as alumni from previous classes of the Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA.

Since going viral with their LA Public Library performance of their song "Racist, Sexist, Boy," the world has watched these four musicians scream about injustice, sing about growing up, and exhibit the kind of altruism that is so meaningful to the punk scene.

Capacity for this event is limited, and we’ve arranged for overflow viewing rooms. You can also watch with us live on YouTube.

Drop in and get creative with crafts celebrating the Central Library: Statue of Civilization crowns, make-and-take mosaics with Piece by Piece, and vintage-inspired bookplates with stamps and card catalog cards.

Make a sunburst paper flower to celebrate the Light of Learning!

Maguire Gardens will feature an array of community partners, crafts, a photo booth, performances, and food trucks for festival-goers to enjoy while taking in the beautiful facade facing Flower Street. 

View the historic time capsule that was placed in the cornerstone of Central Library during building construction in 1925 and dramatically excavated after its century-long slumber. You are also invited to become part of Los Angeles Public Library history by sharing your library story for possible inclusion in our new time capsule, which will be returned to the cornerstone and sealed until 2126! Visit the table in the display area on the Level 3 landing (outside the Literature & Fiction Department) to learn more and pick up a piece of special Central 100 stationery to participate.

Guests of all ages are invited to this hands-on workshop to learn how to make a tunnel book. Cut paper and use watercolor, crayon, or pastel to make a miniature Central Library to take home!

A quiet space for attendees of all ages who may experience sensory overload or simply need a peaceful moment to relax.

We're inviting patrons and staff to share their stories and memories of Central Library over the years via short video or audio recordings that will become part of the LAPL Archives. No prior registration is needed.

Angel City Press at Los Angeles Public Library will have a selection of their titles available for purchase, and will host a series of special author presentations and book signings to celebrate Central 100.

Experience a new exhibition in the Rotunda, a fitting centerpiece of Central Library's 100th anniversary celebration: Luceros y Penumbras: The World's Largest Pop-Up Book! This record-breaking creation features the work of Los Angeles-based artist and printmaker Daniel González and renowned paper engineer Matthew Reinhart. An ambitious feat of scale and storytelling, it explores the role the Library has played in González’s personal and artistic development, and serves as a meditation on how wisdom can be transmitted across generations and borders. On view now through mid-November.

The vintage injection mold vending machine has arrived at Central Library! The Mold-A-Central is located on Lower Level 4 outside the History & Genealogy Department. Cost is $5, credit card only.