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John Bernhill Phillips, the first designated Central Library director. Shelves of film reels in the Audio-Visual Department
Danielle Ball, Librarian, Business & Economics Department, May 5, 2026

Los Angeles Public Library is celebrating 100 years of the Central Library, making this the perfect time to spotlight the exceptional librarians who have overseen this remarkable building and everything within: its collections, programs, services, and staff. Over several weeks, we're highlighting the individuals who have served as Director of Central Library.

In Part 1 of this series,...

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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.


Senior Librarian Mary McCoy at the Teen'Scape Desk

Teen’Scape Revisited: YA Library after Nearly Two Decades

Central Docents, Central Library, Monday, November 23, 2015

When you take our free docent-led art and architecture tours of the Los Angeles Central Library, we always point out Teen’Scape, one of the nation’s first libraries within a library designed by and exclusively for teens. Architect Robert Coffee created the unique space, which opened in 1998.


illustration of the teen'scape space in Central Library

Teen’Scape: The Origin Story

Central Docents, Central Library, Thursday, November 12, 2015

When you take our free docent-led art and architecture tours of the Los Angeles Central Library, we always point out Teen’Scape, one of the nation’s first libraries within a library designed by and exclusively for teens.


4 covers of old city directories

A Powerful Genealogical Resource: City Directories

Julie Huffman, Librarian, History & Genealogy Department, Thursday, October 1, 2015

These annual precursors-to-telephone directories display a person’s home address, but also often a spouse name, occupation, and work address. And since they were largely published every year, they can be powerful tools used to find where your ancestors lived and worked between the decennial U.S.


tour group looking at the library's rotunda

Being a Central Library Docent

Central Docents, Central Library, Tuesday, September 29, 2015

If you love the historic Central Library’s art and architecture, why not share that passion with others?


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