Los Angeles Libraries

The U.S. is beginning an interesting experiment in democracy: We're cutting public library funds, shrinking our public and school libraries, and in some places, shutting them altogether. These actions have nothing to do with whether the libraries are any good or whether the staff provides useful service to the community. This country's largest circulating library, in Queens, N.Y., was named the best system in the U.S. last year by Library Journal. Its budget is due to shrink by a third.

BOOKS The Young Literati, a core group of supporters in their 20s, 30s and 40s, will be celebrating the Los Angeles Public Library's 139th year in business with a toast, as well as music, drinks and hors d'oeuvres. But nothing can be properly feted in Los Angeles without a few famous friends: Russell Brand, Demetri Martin, Henry Rollins and Shepard Fairey will be on hand for the event, contributing readings, performances and general literary-minded congeniality. Los Angeles Central Library, 630 W. 5th St. 8 p.m. Fri. (213)

Start the Bidding: Two autographed "Murphy Brown" scripts and a signed copy of Vice President Dan Quayle's controversial speech attacking the TV series and advocating his views on family values will be auctioned Friday to help raise money for the restoration of two Los Angeles libraries that were destroyed during the Los Angeles riots.

It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon in late December, and the Chinatown Branch Library was buzzing. While a line of children waited to check out books, other patrons surfed the Internet at a bank of computers nearby. At one computer, a man sat watching pornography. And parents complained. Every day adults across the city use library computers to do research, read news, watch YouTube videos and apply for jobs. And 1st Amendment protections give them the right to also access some pornography, city officials say. Regular library patrons say it is not uncommon.

Los Angeles libraries are overdue for attention. Arson, earthquakes, age and population growth have combined to yield a library system that badly needs new buildings and renovations. The libraries also need a public commitment of renewed support--a commitment that can be made if two-thirds of Los Angeles voters will say Yes to Proposition L, a $90-million bond issue to refurbish libraries in 30 areas of the city.

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn launched a citywide reading initiative Thursday, urging all residents to read a copy of Ray Bradbury's science fiction classic "Fahrenheit 451" and participate in neighborhood book groups being organized during April. The "One Book, One City L.A." initiative, modeled after similar programs in Seattle and Chicago, is designed to encourage literacy and promote civic pride. Los Angeles' inaugural program features the mayor's favorite book.

Offering odes to Los Angeles, libraries and librarians, author Ray Bradbury and Mayor Tom Bradley on Friday formally launched a $90-million bond measure campaign to reverse the decline of the city's traumatized library system. Proposition L, for library, on the Nov. 8 ballot would provide money to repair, fortify and expand a system that has been victimized by arson and earthquake.

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn took a new approach in his fight against secession on Saturday, pushing the message that Los Angeles is a great city, rather than focusing on the financial and political risks of breaking up the city, as he has in the past. "I love Los Angeles," the mayor said at a forum on secession organized by the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. "It's a great city that's more than just a place on a map.

As tax revenues plummet and desperate local governments struggle to close widening deficits, some are looking for cuts in quieter places long considered off limits, like public libraries. Last week the city of Colton shut down its three libraries and laid off nearly 60 employees to help plug a $5-million hole in its budget. Moves are afoot to shutter a library in Ventura, and other communities are slashing library hours. "I've never seen such devastation in libraries," said Jackie Griffin, head of Ventura County's system.

In the town where I grew up, the construction of a new public library was for many years held hostage by zoning and funding controversies. And so the library of my childhood was housed on Main Street in an old church. The hush of dark wood, the bitter smell of old wax and the scattered jeweled light, carved into wedges and circles by stained-glass saints, created an appropriate sense of sanctuary.

Although Christopher Nolan's big-budget psychological action movie "Inception" was shot in six countries, art department researcher Dominique Arcadio found much of what she needed to do her job within the aisles of the Los Angeles Public Library. "For every film I've worked on, I've gotten at least 50 books out of the L.A. Public Library," she said. "They're very good about just letting you take out books that should really be reference books. It's one of the best libraries that I've had a chance of using.

The U.S. is beginning an interesting experiment in democracy: We're cutting public library funds, shrinking our public and school libraries, and in some places, shutting them altogether. These actions have nothing to do with whether the libraries are any good or whether the staff provides useful service to the community. This country's largest circulating library, in Queens, N.Y., was named the best system in the U.S. last year by Library Journal. Its budget is due to shrink by a third.

Los Angeles library hours Grappling with fewer employees because of job vacancies and early retirements, the Los Angeles Board of Library Commissioners will consider reduced hours for city libraries at their meeting Thursday. If approved, the changes would take effect April 11. REGIONAL AND BRANCH LIBRARIES Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday: 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday: Closed CENTRAL LIBRARY Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: Closed Source: Los Angeles Library Department

As tax revenues plummet and desperate local governments struggle to close widening deficits, some are looking for cuts in quieter places long considered off limits, like public libraries. Last week the city of Colton shut down its three libraries and laid off nearly 60 employees to help plug a $5-million hole in its budget. Moves are afoot to shutter a library in Ventura, and other communities are slashing library hours. "I've never seen such devastation in libraries," said Jackie Griffin, head of Ventura County's system.

Harry M. Lockwood, John Clyde Collison and James Noel Kerr are among the 20 Los Angeles High School graduates who died in World War I. Today their names would be virtually unknown -- except for the 75-year-old stained-glass window installed in their honor at a library their classmates were determined to build. Los Angeles High School Memorial Library opened in 1930, a quaint Tudor-style brick building set in the 3-acre Memorial Park across from the high school at Olympic and Rimpau boulevards.

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn took a new approach in his fight against secession on Saturday, pushing the message that Los Angeles is a great city, rather than focusing on the financial and political risks of breaking up the city, as he has in the past. "I love Los Angeles," the mayor said at a forum on secession organized by the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. "It's a great city that's more than just a place on a map.

Los Angeles library hours Grappling with fewer employees because of job vacancies and early retirements, the Los Angeles Board of Library Commissioners will consider reduced hours for city libraries at their meeting Thursday. If approved, the changes would take effect April 11. REGIONAL AND BRANCH LIBRARIES Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday: 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday: Closed CENTRAL LIBRARY Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: Closed Source: Los Angeles Library Department

It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon in late December, and the Chinatown Branch Library was buzzing. While a line of children waited to check out books, other patrons surfed the Internet at a bank of computers nearby. At one computer, a man sat watching pornography. And parents complained. Every day adults across the city use library computers to do research, read news, watch YouTube videos and apply for jobs. And 1st Amendment protections give them the right to also access some pornography, city officials say. Regular library patrons say it is not uncommon.

"My security officers in the lobby prior to Sept. 11 were greeters. They were lobby ambassadors, friendly smiles, [a] 'welcome-to-our-home' kind of thing. Now, it's 'OK, who are you?' You come in. You are not in a suit. You are not in a tie. What is your business? Our job is to make sure that no ones gets to a floor unless a tenant wants them on that floor. So, we have a system in place where the tenants will let us know who they are expecting. Everybody checks [in] in the lobby.

Create an Armchair Adventure Summer is a time when many families go on vacation. Whether or not you go somewhere, it is always fun to create an "armchair adventure." Activity To get started, you'll need to make a "suitcase" for your trip. Get a file folder or make your own by folding in half a piece of construction paper. Find some old newspapers and magazines and ask your parents if it's OK to cut pictures out of them. Find a place that looks interesting to visit.