ALA Visits the Los Angeles Central Branch 2/21/2014

On February 21, UCLA’s ALA student chapter received an insider’s tour of LAPL’s Central Library.  Our wonderful guide was Sylva Manoogian--a UCLA MLIS alumna and retired former manager of the International Languages Department at Central Library.

During our tour, several staff members took time out of their busy schedules to speak with us and answer our questions.  This included David Turshyan, International Languages Department Librarian, Mary Abler who is an Innovation Leadership Fellow at LAPL while also holding the distinction of being Susan Abler’s daughter, and City Librarian himself, John F. Szabo.  It was a privilege to hear about the enthusiasm they each hold for their jobs, LAPL’s mission, and the future of public libraries.  We greatly appreciated the opportunity to speak with such dedicated and passionate library professionals.

Our tour had too many highlights to mention, but here is a sampling:

The Lodwrick M. Cook Rotunda--This fabulous space on the 2nd level is somewhere anyone can come to be awed by the Dean Cornwall murals and the magnificent globe chandelier.  

While we were in the Cook Rotunda, Sylva also drew our attention to a corner where old card catalog drawers remain.  When the library was being restored and renovated after the 1986 fire, if an individual donated $1,000, he or she could have their name engraved on one of the drawers’ bronze plaques.  Sylva pointed out a drawer donated by a woman named Marlene Bronte who saved money for years in order to dedicate her drawer in honor of all the homeless people who patronize and contribute to LAPL.

The Children’s Literature Department--This is one of loveliest spaces in Central Library with gorgeous murals by Albert Herter that date to the library’s opening in 1928.

The ever-fascinating (to library and information studies’ students at least) compact shelving.  These particular shelves are performing their duties behind the scenes in International Languages:

The marvelous Travel poster collection which can be found throughout the library and in the Circulation area:

http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/visual-collections/travel-posters

The Library Store run by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles--This store has perhaps the best book-related merchandise and stationary selection in LA.  And all sale proceeds go to support LAPL.

All in all, it was a wonderful day at one of the best public libraries in the world.

David Turshyan speaks with our group in the International Languages Department.

Our Group with Sylva Manoogian and City Librarian John Szabo.