WOW!!! That’s all I can say about the Los Angeles Public Library’s library history celebration. Lots of engaging web content and events. LHRTer Tiffney Sanford is in Los Angeles and writing posts for the event, and we thank her for the update below… –Brett Spencer, Editor
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The Los Angeles Public Library has been celebrating their Central Library’s centennial year, dubbed Central 100. There is a web page devoted to the celebrations [https://www.lapl.org/central-100] which included an all-day festival in July that had activities and performances throughout the building and the grounds. Descendants of the architects and artists who worked on Central Library were present along with approximately 12,000 attendees.
I’ve been working on historical Central Library-focused articles alongside a few other colleagues [https://www.lapl.org/news-stories/topics/central-100]. There are also staff-created podcasts, community oral histories, plus color-by-number sheets featuring the library’s architectural features and tied to a Beanstack reading challenge.
One of the biggest hits of Central’s centennial celebration has been the Card Catalog Stamp Collection (see attached). There’s a larger story behind this project but basically each of LAPL’s libraries have been given large supplies of former Central Library catalog cards along with a rubber stamp that depicts their branch. People from all over the city are visiting each library to collect the stamps. It has been a wonderful way for the libraries to connect with a larger audience, and a great way for participants to explore parts of the city they might not have been to before. As someone collecting the stamps I’ve met incredible library workers (I rarely introduce myself as a fellow staff member so I’ve been an anonymous participant). And as someone in the library stamping the cards for patrons I’ve met incredible Angelenos (and tourists) and had an opportunity to share what makes my branch unique.
–Tiffney Sanford
