The Library, in partnership with the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, has established a residency program, Los Angeles Public Library Creators in Residence, designed to engage creative Angelenos from a multitude of disciplines. The program supports local interdisciplinary creators and inspires new work informed or enhanced by the Los Angeles Public Library’s collections and services, while also highlighting the impact of the library as a creative haven.
Creator Andy Crocker has created six experience kits and two audio pieces inspired by the Los Angeles Public Library’s 72 branches and infinite stories.
She may have also created the Bureau of Nooks and Crannies.
Directory of the Bureau's Library Experiences
Where to find Collaborative Stories & Mischievous Meditations
These experience kits and audio pieces will remain available at the branches after the Creators in Residence exhibit at Central Library closes. Please contact the library branch directly for more information.
From the Creator: The summer my kid learned to read, I watched the expression on her face as she wandered out of the picture book section of our neighborhood branch and realized the vastness of the library she could now explore. It was pure wonder. I quickly became consumed with figuring out a path for grown-ups to feel that same way. I longed for us to make brand new memories not just about what we borrow from the library, but how we feel while we’re there. That's when I first came across the Bureau of Nooks and Crannies. It is possible that they had always been there, and I had never noticed. This would make sense as “hiding in plain sight” is listed as one of their core values. The more I learned about the Bureau, the more I felt drawn to them, and their mission aligned so well with mine. I have wondered whether I invented them completely. Still, if they were a figment of my imagination, it didn’t seem to matter, as another tenet of their organization is a fervent reverence for make-believe. The Bureau encouraged me to mix elements of guided meditation, game design, site-responsive art, bibliomancy, and the Dewey Decimal system to create multiple invitations to pretend. Each adventure has a unique genre and perspective. You may become a mythical creature, a heartbroken romantic, a historian from the future… or perhaps just a more playful or contemplative version of yourself. The Bureau and I can’t wait to share what we’ve put together for you. See you in the stacks!
Credits
The Bureau of Nooks & Crannies is a possibly fictional organization made up of very real people:
- Jeff Crocker & Ellie Kuhlke, Lead Creative Associates
- Silvie Zamora, Voice of Reason and Narration
- Mitch Mastroni, Mailbox Magician
- Alex Choate, Miniature Maximalist
- Sue Kaplan, Librarian, Encouragement Compass
- April Soetarman, Narrative Constellation Astronomer
- Shirley Crocker, Muse and Bookworm
- Regan Chagal, Mapmaker
- Steve Ewing, Sonic Sorcery
- We Are Giants, Trailhead and Gallery Design
- Todd Lerew, Library Foundation Director of Special Projects
- Christina Rice, Senior Librarian, Photo Collection
- John F. Szabo, City Librarian
- Kren Malone, Director of Central Library
- Very Special Thanks to Darren Herczeg, Laura Hess, Britt Schoenhoff and all the dedicated playtesters.
Andy Crocker is a live experience designer and director known for highly participatory, fun-forward pieces. With expertise in innovative storytelling, she’s worked with collaborators and clients from Noah’s Ark at the Skirball to Walt Disney Imagineering. Recent independent work includes the absurdist show/game Escape from Godot, the musical decluttering seminar Objectivity, the interactive pirate radio documentary 40 Watts From Nowhere, and Shower Thoughts, a mini-memoir styled after a Dr. Bronner’s soap label. Her mischievously uncategorizable projects have been recognized across industries, winning awards intended for escape rooms, immersive theatre, and themed entertainment.
Andy Crocker is part of the 2023/2024 Los Angeles Public Library Creators in Residence cohort, along with Creator Shing Yin Khor.