All of us who went through school in the United States have read at least a few American novels published before 1900. The most likely suspects are The Scarlet Letter, Moby Dick, Huckleberry Finn, Tom…
Los Angeles is a city of many Spanish speakers, and it’s easy to see the advantages of being bilingual. Some parents want to introduce their children to speaking Spanish or another language at a young…
Sure we’re still staying put, and while social distancing has nipped our spring plans in the bud, it’s also great to have the time to slow down and read! Why not take a look at some fiction about…
Here is a centuries-old Armenian riddle by Nerses Shnorhali.No feathers and no wings it has,Swifter than a bird it flies,From land to land it tours and turns,With companions it returns.Արդ է անթև և…
Cynthia Hand is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for teens, including the Unearthly trilogy, The Afterlife of Holly Chase, The Last Time We Say Goodbye, and My Lady Jane & My…
Did you know that scholars are uncertain as to Shakespeare’s actual birthday? We have a record of his baptism on April 26, 1564 and a burial marker that states he was 52 when he passed, but no more…
Welcome to the penultimate batch of affectionate, exasperated, and always entertaining poems written by our staff about their first car. We threw down the challenge last week as part of National…
When the library's Octavia Lab opened in June of 2019, it was envisioned as a collaborative work-space for creatives, makers, and hobbyists. Now, as COVID-19 has forced the closure of the library to…
"Sheer perfection, no objection, near confection" —Fred RogersWhat is poetry? Ask any random sampling of children and the answer might be simply, words that rhyme. But a poem can take many forms. My…
It was a time when Angelenos should have been preparing to head out into the streets waving victory flags and knocking back belts of whiskey before the commencement of the dreaded Volstead act. The…
Ah, April. The month we celebrate Spring, National Poetry Month and the birth (and death) of one Mr. William Shakespeare. Arguably the most famous author of all time, Shakespeare’s works are perennial…
In celebration of National Poetry Month, we gave Los Angeles Public Library staffers a poetry prompt—Write an Ode to Your First Car—and the response was Fast and Furious! Because we received so many…
Are you using Zoom to communicate with colleagues, family, and friends while staying safe at home? Here's a gallery of library photos you can display as virtual backgrounds during your next meeting…
Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Stephen HawkingAstrophysicist and cultural icon Stephen Hawking shared this recommendation in a 2010 interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer…
Peter Swanson is the author of six novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and Her Every Fear, an NPR…
Like the current year, 1920 was an eventful one for the United States. The “Spanish Influenza” epidemic of the previous two years, which we’ve heard a lot about recently, had taken 675,000 American…
Way back in the 1980s, for that BFF or pen pal or special someone, you would make mixtapes. The perfect set of songs, lovingly curated to express your eternal friendship, your inspiration, the dark…
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, nonsense verse is defined as “humorous or whimsical verse that differs from other comic verse in its resistance to any rational or allegorical interpretation…
Movie theaters may be closed and many films delayed, but fear not! There is an abundance of book to film adaptations to be found on Kanopy, Overdrive, Digitalia Film and hoopla, our streaming services…
As Women’s History Month ends, we would like to offer you a few e-books and e-audiobooks about intrepid, adventurous women who traveled for the sheer joy of doing something different, to escape from…
“Music… will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.” ―Dietrich BonhoefferIn good times…
Sarah Gailey came onto the scene in 2015 and has since become one of the sharpest, funniest voices in pop culture online. They are a regular contributor to multiple websites, including Tor.com. Their…
Humans are destroying the planet. We’re eviscerating our atmosphere with growing holes in the ozone and using the planet as our trash can with no awareness of the consequences. It can be overwhelming…
On February 24, guitarist and songwriter David Roback passed away in his home city of Los Angeles at the age of 61. He was best known for his moody psychedelic band Mazzy Star, featuring vocalist Hope…
