Public Library, Los Angeles, California
Identifier
post_00132
Title
Public Library , Los Angeles , California
Creator
unknown
Date Published
circa 1966
Subject (Topic)
Public libraries--California--Los Angeles ;
Subject (Name)
Los Angeles Public Library ;
Subject (Place)
Los Angeles (Calif.)--Buildings & structures ;
Type
image
Form/Genre
Postcards
Physical Description
1 postcard : Color ; 14 x 9 cm .
Institution
Department of Archives and Special Collections , William H . Hannon Library , Loyola Marymount University
Country of Creation
US
Copyright Status
public domain
Copyright Statement
https://library.lmu.edu/policies&procedures/librarycopyrightpolicy/
Publisher
Longshaw Card Co .
Place of Publication
Los Angeles , Calif .
Language
eng
Description
Fifth Street side entrance to Central Library ; people gathered at doorway or sitting on bench ; trees , shrubbery ; streetlights ; flags of U.S . and California on flagpoles next to tower .
Historical Background
The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) began as a subscription based reading room located in Downey Block at Main , Spring and Temple Streets . The 6,000-plus book collection was moved to the second City Hall building in 1889 where it was cataloged for the first time using the then new Dewey Decimal system . In 1891 , the city began to fully fund the library and the subscription fee was dropped , making access free . From the 1890s on, the library had outgrown its allotted space and library supporters lobbied continuously for a separate building . Finally , in 1926 , the Central Library building opened at the site of the old State Normal School , between Fifth and Sixth , Grand and Flower . It was designed by Bertram Goodhue in an Ancient Egyptian style with an arch , a mosaic pyramid decorated with suns , sphinxes , and snakes , topped by a hand holding a torch to represent the Light of Learning. " Two arson fires in 1986 damaged part of the building and 20% of its collection . Rebuilding began in 1988 , and when it opened in 1993 , the renovated structure featured a Neo-Mission style with an additional east wing and a high atrium . In funding the rebuilding , air rights were sold to developers who added a tower that exceeded city height restrictions . Library Tower , now the U.S . Bank Tower , remains the tallest building in Los Angeles . The name of the library was changed to the Richard Riordan Central Library to honor former Mayor Riordon for his strong support of the library .
Additional Printed Matter
On back:"The splendid Los Angeles Library costing $2,300,000, with seventeen reading rooms, a music room, art room, and lecture hall, gives specialized service to the appreciative public of Los Angeles."
Publisher's Identifier
Series number: LS-26
Additional Notes
Approximate date from inscription on the back .
Contributors
H.S . Crocker , Co. , Inc , San Francisco 1 , Calif .
Source
Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
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