The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) system serves the residents of Los Angeles, California. LAPL is one of the largest publicly funded library systems in the world. The system is overseen by a Library Board comprised of five members appointed by the mayor. Downtown Los Angeles skyline facing northeast toward the San Gabriel Mountains on a clear winter day. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... Librarians and patrons in a typical larger urban public library A public library is a library which is accessible by the public and is often operated by civil servants and funded from public sources. ... This is a list of mayors of Los Angeles, California. ...

Circulating books, periodicals, computer access and audio visual materials are available to patrons. The Library's Rare Book Department is located in its downtown Los Angeles location. The LAPL also provides services to home bound patrons and bookmobile services. Modern-style library itories and/or access points for maps, prints or other artwork, microfilm, microfiche, audio tapes, CDs, LPs, video tapes and DVDs, and provide public facilities to access CD-ROM databases and the Internet. ...

Aggressive expansion and growth of the system began in the 1920s. Under library Board Chairman Orra E. Monnette, the system gained the support of Los Angeles citizens and began building a network of modern branch libraries to keep pace with Los Angeles' growth as a city. Sometimes referred to as the Roaring Twenties. Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy Gun. ... Orra Eugene Monnette (1877-1936). ...

Central Library

The Richard Riordan Central Library, originally constructed in 1926, is a downtown Los Angeles landmark. It is the third largest library in the United States in terms of book and periodical holdings. Richard J. Riordan (born 1930) is a Republican politician from California, currently serving as the California Secretary of Education, and Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993-2001. ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Downtown Los Angeles skyline facing northeast toward the San Gabriel Mountains. ...

Architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue designed the original Los Angeles Central Library to mimic the architecture of ancient Egypt. The central tower is topped with a tiled mosaic pyramid with suns on either side with a hand holding a torch representing the "Light of Learning" at the apex. Other elements include sphinxes, snakes, and celestial mosaics. It has similarities to the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, also designed by Goodhue. Goodhue by Lee Lawrie, holding the Rockefeller Chapel, Chicago, Illinois Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue (April 28, 1869 _ April 23, 1924) was a renowned American architect celebrated for his work in neo-gothic design. ... Architecture (in Greek αρχή = first and τέχνη = craftsmanship) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... Map of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was the civilization of the Nile Valley between about 3000 BC and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. As a civilization based on irrigation, it is the quintessential example of a hydraulic empire. ... Geometric shape created by connecting a polygonal base to an apex A pyramid is a geometric shape formed by connecting a polygonal base and a point, called the apex, by triangular faces. ... A Sun is the star at the centre of a solar system. ... The Great Sphinx of Giza, with the Pyramid of Khafre in the background. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... The Nebraska State Capitol The Nebraska State Capitol (aka The Tower on the Plain), located in Lincoln, Nebraska, is the capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Nebraska. ... Lincoln is the capital city of the State of Nebraska, in the United States of America. ...

It was extensively renovated and expanded in the neo-Mission style in the late 1980s, including an enormous, six-story atrium dedicated to former mayor Tom Bradley. The interior of the library is decorated with various figures, statues, chandeliers, and grilles, notably a four-part mural by Dean Cornwell depicting stages of the history of California. The Mission Revival Style was an architectural movement that began in the late 19th century and drew inspiration from the early Spanish Missions of California. ... Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... Tom Bradley is a common name shared by a number of individuals: Tom Bradley, American author Tom Bradley, Former Mayor of Los Angeles, California Tom Bradley, British Member of Parliament and trade union leader (Transport Salaried Staffs Association). ... A mural is a painting on a wall, ceiling, or other large permanent surface. ... Although the present-day state of California has been occupied for millennia, the lack of a written history and the significant marginalization in the population of native inhabitants after European colonization means that most of its known history begins with European exploration. ...

The catalyst for the renovation was the devastating arson fire of April 29, 1986. Although the building was safely evacuated, its vintage construction precluded the ventilation of heat and smoke, and limited firefighter access. Some 400,000 volumes—20 percent of the library's holdings—were destroyed, with significant water and smoke damage done to the surviving works. A second fire on September 3 of the same year destroyed a reading room. Arson is the crime of setting a fire with intent to cause damage. ... For other uses See fire (disambiguation). ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Firefighter with an axe DC-FEMS firefighters working a pizzeria fire in the District of Columbia A firefighter is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people, and in some areas provide emergency medical services. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ...

As part of the rehabilitation plan, the LAPL sold its air rights to developers, enabling the construction of the eponymous Library Tower (later renamed the U.S. Bank Tower) skyscraper across the street. U.S. Bank Tower in Downtown Los Angeles is the tallest North American building west of Chicago. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest skyscraper by roof height on high rise. ...

Branches

Besides the Central Library at the L.A. Civic Center, the system also operates 70 branch locations in the city's many neighborhoods: The following are districts and neighborhoods within the city limits of the city of Los Angeles, sorted by region and then alphabetically: See also Other cities in L.A. County Other areas of L.A. County, which are census-recognized but unincorporated External links Map - Individual Communities within the City...

External links

• Los Angeles Public Library system (http://www.lapl.org/)
• Library Foundation of Los Angeles (http://www.lfla.org/)
• Chuck, Lysbeth. "Los Angeles' Very Special Libraries (http://www.sla.org/content/Shop/Information/infoonline/2002/feb02/chuck.cfm)," Information Outlook, Vol. 6, No. 2, February 2002 (published by the Special Libraries Association)
• Fodors.com: Richard J. Riordan Central Library (http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=los_angeles@92&cur_section=sig&property_id=21248)