The Library will be closed on Sunday, April 20, 2025, in observance of Easter.

LAPL Blog

Latest Posts

Mario Vargas Llosa
Nicholas Clayton, Librarian, Multilingual Collections, April 18, 2025

Mario Vargas Llosa nació el 28 de marzo de 1936 en Arequipa, Perú y falleció en Lima el 13 de abril a los 89 años de edad. Durante su vida, vivió en varios países como Perú, Bolivia, España, y Francia. Ganó el premio Príncipe de Asturias en 1986 y también el premio Nobel de Literatura en 2010. Autor de más de 50 obras de literatura incluidos Conversación en la catedral, Cartas a...

Pages

Collage of Los Angeles Public Libraries named after women

The 7½ Los Angeles Public Library Branches Named After Women

Tiffney Sanford, Librarian, North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Branch Library, Friday, March 11, 2022

The Los Angeles Public Library has seven and a "half" branches dedicated to extraordinary women. Let’s take a look at these women and their namesake libraries for Women’s History Month.


Collage of books about female spies during World War II

Women Who Risked Everything: Female Spies of World War II

Deborah Savage, Librarian, History & Genealogy Department, Thursday, March 10, 2022

World War II required an enormous number of troops and personnel throughout the world. The unrelenting demand for labor opened up new opportunities for women. For the first time, the United States military established separate branches for women.


Collage of books about unknown genealogy, family tree and adoption

Uncovering Family Secrets: Forming a New Identity

Janice Batzdorff, Librarian, Monday, March 7, 2022

Imagine discovering that the man who raised you is not your biological father. That your mother’s race differs from how she presented herself. That the person you are attracted to is your sibling. That you are the descendant of a renowned individual. A monstrous one.


Author Freya Marske and her debut novel, A Marvellous Light

Interview With an Author: Freya Marske

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, March 3, 2022

Freya Marske is one of the co-hosts of Be the Serpent, a Hugo Award-nominated podcast about SFF, fandom, and literary tropes, and her work has sold to Analog and been shortlisted for Best Fantasy Short Story in the Aurealis Awards. She lives in Australia.


Children eating lunch b & w photo from 1983

5 Picture Books Celebrating California Foodies

Kadie Seitz, Librarian, Youth Services, Tuesday, March 1, 2022

California Nouns: People, Places, and Things
California Food Culture


Author Andrea Hairston and her latest novel, Redwood and Wildfire

Interview With an Author: Andrea Hairston

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, February 24, 2022

Andrea Hairston is a novelist, essayist, playwright, and the Artistic Director of Chrysalis Theatre. She is the author of Mindscape, shortlisted for the Phillip K. Dick and Otherwise awards, and winner of the Carl Brandon Parallax Award.


African-American classical composer, Julia Perry

Julia Perry - American Neoclassicist

Alan Westby, Librarian, Art, Music & Recreation Department, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Julia Perry (1924-1979) was an American composer of African descent who had remarkable success in Europe and the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. She made an international impression with her Stabat Mater, composed in 1951, and her Short Piece for Orchestra the following year.


Pictured: Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Bich Ngoc Cao,City Librarian John Szabo, Meg DeLoatch

Congressman John Lewis: Civil Rights Leader and Trailblazer

Social Science, Philosophy and Religion Department, Central Library, Wednesday, February 23, 2022

John Lewis was born in Troy, Alabama, the third oldest son of ten children. His father was a tenant farmer, while his mother earned extra money doing housework for other families.


Japanese family gather beside an automobile at Wawona Tree in Yosemite National Park

Big Trees, Big Hearts: 5 Picture Books about Redwoods & Sequoias

Kadie Seitz, Librarian, Youth Services, Tuesday, February 22, 2022

California Nouns: People, Places, and Things
Big Trees


Collage of albums by African Americans available on Freegal and hoopla

Celebrate African American History Month With Great Music on hoopla and Freegal

Daniel Tures, Adult Librarian, Edendale Branch Library, Friday, February 18, 2022

February is African American History Month, but every month is a good month to celebrate African American history and culture, and what better place to do so than your local library!


Pages

Top