This is the crown jewel of the Los Angeles Public Library. A shrine to all forms of literature and…read moreknowledge in the heard of downtown Los Angeles. It's a beacon to the whole city. One large enough that you cannot take it all in in one visit. With that said, if you are able to, try to sign up for one of their tours where you can learn about the history of the library from a knowledgable docent. The library just needs to be explored. From its large vaulted main hallway to beautifully ornate wood ceiling panels, it's just a beautiful building. So much so that you might find yourself forgetting that it is, in fact, a working library.

I always love coming here to visit! It's so big and full of things to discover and explore across…read moreevery floor! Plus, after taking the architecture tour, it really made me appreciate all the little details throughout the building, both inside and outside. Like, who knew that even the carpet design was intentional haha. And of course, the art exhibits will always be eye-catching and cool to learn more about. I also appreciated how easy it was to get a library card :) Though, the person at the info register could have been a little nicer lol, but oh well. Additionally, it was nice to also get to sign up for the Octavia Lab. Super excited for my next library visit!

There is a wide selection of Japanese magazines, manga, and novels. In particular, I always borrow…read more"Chikyu no Arukikata " the Globe-Trotter travel guides before traveling. It is very convenient as free parking is also available.

I'm only really dinging this location for parking. There is no parking at the actual branch so you…read moreneed to park next door in a subterranean lot that is very small. We came on a weekend unknowingly during a community event at that other building so there was not only no parking, but no one was going back to their car so there was no point sitting around waiting for a spot to open up. If you are able to walk to this location or take public transportation instead of driving, I highly suggest it. But beyond that, this branch is a great resource for the community. There are plenty of Japanese books and resources that I really appreciated seeing. It shows that this branch isn't just a cut & paste library. It has taken the time to curate itself to those who would most likely be attending. This is what a library should be. A valuable resource to the people in the neighborhood.

A great and quiet place away from the riff raffs of the streets of Beverly Hills and the love the…read moreatmosphere so far to study.

I had been wanting to come to this library for a while now. As expected, this is a beautiful and…read moreclean library. You can kind of get lost in some of the hidden pockets of it. If you desire a more communal public space, there are plenty of seats in the middle of the library. But if you are looking for a more quiet, subdued, isolated experience, check the far corners of the library at the end of some of the shelves and you'll find perfectly unoccupied spaces to be in your own zone. While I don't love that you have to take a ticket to park, the first two hours here are free. Bonus perk: you don't have to be a resident of Beverly Hills to have a Beverly Hills library card. I signed up for one and I'm looking forward to using this in addition to my LAPL card. Another bonus perk: they offer passport services here.

Fun stop when visiting Grand Central Market. So many movies have filmed here -- Blade Runner and…read moreLethal Weapon just to name a couple. It's refreshing to see this kind of architecture in Los Angeles among endless mini malls. You can tell real pride went into the design and craftsmanship. A true historic landmark and worth taking a few minutes to appreciate while you're there.

What can you say about the Bradbury Building except that it is not what it once was. Currently, you…read morecan walk in there pretty much seven days a week and see the skeletal remains of what was once a fantastic piece of DTLA architecture. Now, the upstairs offices are generally blocked off and all that is left is the what used to be. Certainly, the Bradbury Building came to fame during the 1982 movie, Blade Runner where it was used as one of their primary sets. This was long before it was renovated showing off it's truly unique interior architecture. Very beautiful! For a lot of years, this building was pretty much closed to the public except for those who used it as a filming location. Being involved in the film industry for a lot of years, I personally have been in this building a number of times throughout its evolution. More recently, somebody got the great idea to renovate it. I guess that's a good thing? But, in its current state, all that you see is a whole lot of tourists coming in there, even tour guides, taking people in there telling them all kinds of lies about the history of the building. They weren't there, so they don't know! Yet, they speak about it. Now, it's a modernized office structure. Yes, much of the interior metallurgy is still there -- reminiscent of the time gone past. But much the vibe of the building is long gone. That's sad, I think. So, if you're in DTLA, and you want to look back to the past, the Bradbury Building is a interesting place to do that. It's right across the street from Grand Central Market, so it's impossible to miss. You can pretty much go in there seven days a week, and though you'll be limited to staying on the first floor, you can take a look and see what once was. I would say it's definitely worth the expedition.

Great library to study at. Pretty sure during winter months the second floor southwestern reading…read morearea by the windows doubles as an informatory. A huge concentration of people who have a cold. Luckily I did not get Corona while studying there. Nor do I think there is a chance of people getting it at LMU. the bathrooms are very clean only late Sunday nights does it start to look like a public university's bathroom at 9:00 am. I am not Christian but I like the cross that welcomes you. it is bright and white. Modern and old mixed in one instant. Much like the school. The library has low light. My friends brought their own reading lamps. If you need light I suggest you do the same. If there was a petting zoo outside of the library that would make it so much better.

The librarian lied about having the hello kitty library cards idk why she would do that then she…read moresaid I couldn't change my library card with them that there is a number I need to call I've been going to the library my entire life I've never seen a library that won't give you a card in person with your ID but I guess this is the only library in all of la county

Definitely one of my favorite places to visit in DTLA, and I love taking friends from out of town…read morehere because it's so spectacular inside, especially with the "arch of books". You can take some great photos here. If you are into unique books, this is paradise! It's famous for the swirling book tunnel, the giant book arch, and there are original bank vaults that now house true crime, horror, and rare collectible books. The Last Bookstore is California's largest new and used independent book and record store. Josh Spencer founded the OG bookstore in 2005, and it moved to this massive space inside Spring Arts Tower (a converted 1914 bank building) in 2011. The inside feels like a castle of books, with high ceilings and marble columns, and heavy bank vaults. It's a must see if you're downtown and want a unique shopping experience. There are thousands of new, used, and rare books, plus a huge selection of vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs. There is also a "Labyrinth & Art Annex". The mezzanine level features a maze like collection of indie artist studios, local art galleries, and a massive stock of bargain books, including a selection of $1 books. Parking in downtown LA can be a pain, and this store doesn't have its own parking so I think the easiest place to park is the surface parking lot next door at 449 S. Spring St. You can quickly pay on site via the ParkMobile App.

As a destination for book lovers, The Last Bookstore is definitely a worthy spot to add to any…read morelist. I had to visit when I was in LA recently, and I'm so glad I did. TLB is in a giant former bank. It was aisle upon windy aisle upon small rooms in bank vaults of finds, with shops and a cafe also tucked in the upper level. What makes it truly stand out though is the book-themed art installations throughout the space. A tunnel made of books, a circle of books to look through -- these surprises make the space even more fun to explore. But these unique views also provide a backdrop for photographers, I now know. There were a handful of photographer-and-subjet duos throughout the space when I went. This was fine, except for the fact that they took over areas of the store for an extended period of time, making it hard to browse. Now as a used bookstore itself, the selection left a little to be desired. I didn't find anything that I had to have, and I really hoped I could come home with at least a book or two. It felt like the selection came from a decade or more ago and hadn't been added to since. Still, it was such a fun experience to peruse. Also, while I was there, I noticed a large group mingling in the first floor and then a man behind a table signing books -- a book signing, I presumed. When I was about to leave and was purchasing a T-shirt, I asked the cashier who was doing a signing. He said those folks just showed up and that no one at the store knew there was going to be a signing today! What a funny experience all around.

Wow! What an amazing library amassed by William Andrews Clark, the copper magnate from Montana…read more This is a beautiful collection, in a fabulous building! While the gardens and grounds are currently being restored, the Library itself is jaw dropping fabulous. I was able to tour today, with the very knowledgeable Bailey. This is a hidden gem, that is actually part of the UCLA system. Concerts and lecture series are open to the public. Information is available at Clarklibrary.UCLA.edu Reservations are required for tours. Free parking on the grounds.

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, named for one of the most illustrious and impactful Los…read moreAngeles citizens you've never heard of, offers a look into the life and times of a truly special and important Angeleno. William A. Clark Jr. was the founder of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a fine book collector, and philanthropist who donated this exceptional library to the University of California, Los Angeles. He was also a husband, a father, heir to a large fortune, a lover, and a fan of Oscar Wilde. His romantic partner Harrison Post was a noted transcriber of Oscar Wilde's letters; the library continues to hold significant works by this ground-breaking author. The buildings comprising the library have been beautifully preserved and expanded over the years. The library collection itself is held in temperature controlled areas, with volumes being rotated out for exhibits. Appointments are necessary to see specific volumes. The grounds themselves are open to the public during business hours; however, to see the interior of the library, you must attend a docent-guided tour. Our docent, Bailey, was truly exepctional; humorous, knoweledgable, and patient with all our questions. Please email the library to sign up for a tour. Admission is free. Parking is also free (as we were told, the *only* free parking on the UCLA campus!). Add this to your list if you're interested in Los Angeles, history, queer history, and/or Oscar Wilde. Highest recommendation.

Beautiful library in Silver Lake! I stopped by to get some work done on a Monday afternoon and…read morethere was plenty of seating and table space, and wifi is fast. However, there aren't too many visible outlets based on my knowledge. I appreciate the wide collection of Spanish books for children on display! There's a dedicated underground parking lot but I can definitely see it filling up on a busy day. Bring a jacket; it can get chilly inside.

This is one of the newest branches in the LAPL system so it's very clean and inviting inside…read more However, parking is so minimal. It's a small lot under the library and we came when there was some sort of community event going on so there was absolutely nothing open & no one was going to their car to leave. That forced us to have to park over a block a way & walk in. The event also spilled out in to the entrance way which made it tough to get in and out of the location. I love that this was a popular location that the community seems to have embraced, but it just wasn't the easiest library for me to navigate to both from parking to actually getting in and out.

This will be short but good…read more I called ahead to see if they had the Avatar: The Last Airbender library cards. They sure did and the process was straightforward. There was plenty of parking. This location was easy to find. The staff member that helped was welcoming and let me know what resources I have access to like online rentals, etc. I was able to get in and get out. Highly recommend!

Great library with plenty of work/study tables, a printer, and a great community wall to see what…read moreevents and resources are available. There a huge binder full of job opportunities and a highlight of city job openings. The library was pretty busy at 5pm with the study rooms full and almost every cubicle and desk filled. There was also a large printer (I believe it might be cash only) that the public can print from: It was a great sight to see this beautiful library being appreciated and used by the community. I came in to get a library card and the process was very quick! I also browsed their sections and the library has materials and dvds in several different languages. There were also English conversation courses/groups that meet up. What a great place for the community to gather! So many resources available!

After having an amazing breakfast today decided to come into the library to take care of some…read moreunfinished business! That's when I had to do a quick 360 as the sheer volume of people waiting in a line shocked me! What on Earth were they in line for? Well of course, to get an official l LA County public library Hello Kitty card! I decided to move on, but not before some very helpful library employees explained exactly what the line was for, and when would be the best time to come back.

This library is a hub for homeless, notice a few sleeping or lounging around the library while I…read morewas there. Parking is also a nightmare at this library. Had to drive around the parking lot 4 or 5 times before someone finally left. Also, you have to be careful exiting the library, especially if you are turning left on Overland. Gave 2 stars instead of 1 as the staff seemed nice.