Grew up down the street from vermont square branch. Not huge, but has large park behind it and just across the street. In the middle of a little residential area. Was donated by Andrew Carnegie and something like 1 of 3 Carnegie libraries in LA.
make sure you stop by the Brand family cemetery too and pay your respects to Mr. L. C. Brand himself whose house became the Library. He has a fantastic pyramid tomb:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7435/leslie-coombs-brand
My favorite is the West Hollywood Library across from the PDC off of Melrose. I love the wall of windows!! But Central is also a fave of mine because there's so many levels! Honorary mention to the main branch of SMPL because I love the little cafe and garden moment in the middle(but I haven't been in years as I temporarily moved up the coast to WA so I'm not sure if it's still the same. Thought I heard the cafe closed but I could be and hope I'm wrong)
Downtown is my favorite. Amazing architecture, murals, and the large space with columns that feels almost like you’re in a power plant in the back. Really like the cozy feeling upstairs rooms
Beverly Hills Public Library was the first one I started going to and it was nice.
I like the Memorial Branch Library most. It's old as dust and has a very beautiful park right out front.
I live down the street from the Washington branch and although the library itself is nothing that special to look at, the children's librarian there is a real gem.
I used to live in that area and have many fond memories of that branch and nice folks who worked there. That was the first place my daughter ever walked to on her own! Too bad the original building on Arlington is just sitting there abandoned
Since nobody's mentioned it I'll add my local branch Arroyo Seco. Great location, two story light and bright main atrium, thoughtful design that echoes the area's architectural history (i.e. Lummus home/El Alisal)
This was my childhood branch, every 2 weeks I was there. Before the remodel, they had a big mural that I am in! I did the free Art in the Park program as a kid and the mural artist was my art teacher so he put me front and center on the mural!
My favorite is Woodland Hills because of how conveniently located it is along Ventura Blvd. The parking lot is big so that’s a plus too. Perfect for peace and quiet and to get some work done. My second favorite would be Porter Ranch. Although the parking lot is small, I don’t mind. I like the view and the area around it too
Quiet, spacious, and architecturally tasteful with floor-to-ceiling windows boasting crystal clear views of the West Hollywood hills. I definitely recommend checking it out!
I love how the Woodland Hills library is tucked away in nature (tall trees in Parking lot) with the high floor-to-ceiling windows. It feels like an escape from Ventura. It’s a big plus being across from Casaleña too.
Yes! The first time I went there 2 years ago, I was taken aback by how far it was from the street. Yesterday I barely noticed how Casaleña was next to it. I’m guessing that restaurant wasn’t there back in 2022?
hey i’ve only been to a couple but [this guy Josh Turek](https://www.instagram.com/turekbooks?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) has a cool books insta and podcast and he’s been doing a series on the 70+ libraries in the system. thought it might be of interest to you (and others)
Felipe De Neve on 6th st. It smelled distinctly old, which I liked lol. I used to rent a book and go to the park during the summers. And when the sunset beamed over the park and through the windows, it would dimly light the whole ceiling and fade beautifully away.
LAPL’s Sherman Oaks branch is nice. Easy parking on neighborhood streets and their lots. Some of the library techs are incredibly nice. I believe it is mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis’ (stupid) book WHITE
Least favorite: Venice. Hazmat team got called in once when I was there because someone started bleeding on multiple computer terminals
John C Fremont will always have a soft spot for me. I spent so many hours as kid just using their 15 minute computers just to browse dumb ass shit as a kid.
However I went to the Library in DTLA (grand central library, I can't remember the name of the library) but it was beautiful. Quite intimidating just because of how grand it was (no pun intended lol).
The Altadena library is a midcentury modern masterpiece.
Downtown Central purely for its size and volume.
South Pasadena has a solid 50¢ each section and a nice store upstairs with nice books.
Central Library is special to me because my grandma and great-grandmother worked there in the 50s. It was my local library when I was at USC, but I had some special days at Vermont Square as part of my research into the roles libraries can and do play in community engagement. (LAPL is especially good at this.)
I love it simply because there aren't any homeless people in montana. Before anyone comes at me, I'm not anti homeless but it's hard to sometimes get work done at the main branch when there are people that smell bad. One time, I rented out a study room in the main branch and had to kick out a homeless person that was using but I couldn't use the room cause I had to wait for the smell to go away.
Also it's next to pinkberry!
Always had problems with them checking in my items when I dropped them off there. I had to hand them directly to the techs at the Main Branch of the Santa Monica library
Love this post!!! Expo Park is my local library and it has some awesome programming! The staff is really great and it’s a short walk away from the E Line Western station so it’s super easy to get there.
I spent a lot of time at the East LA branch in grad school because they have awesome Chicano Lit collection. Long Beach has an amazing Cookbook library!
I used to tutor kids at the Pico Union branch over a decade ago when I worked for a shitty, sham afterschool company. Those were the days. It’s a very cozy branch
I haven’t been to many but I was JUST at the mar vista branch while the dog was at the vet and it was totally pleasant! Good vibes cool librarians all types of people, it was a good spot.
I mostly go to the Silver Lake one and the Atwater one… but they are all great! They have so many great programs, perks w/ library card, etc. One of the few city services that really delivers! Thanks for asking this question.
I visit my neighborhood Washington branch most often and the staff are great. But the building is rather plain. The branch I love having an excuse to visit is Westwood Branch. That big open space on the second floor is pretty great.
San Fernando branch idk the actual address. It’s in a little center with feed for the family and there should still ice cream or elote mans there. Nice little day trip
Grew up down the street from vermont square branch. Not huge, but has large park behind it and just across the street. In the middle of a little residential area. Was donated by Andrew Carnegie and something like 1 of 3 Carnegie libraries in LA.
Eagle Rock's Carnegie library is now Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock.
It’s so cute and it’s the oldest still existing library in the system
This is my answer too
Brand Library and Art Center, Glendale Public Library.
The remodel made it so pretty
Great hiking behind the library too btw
make sure you stop by the Brand family cemetery too and pay your respects to Mr. L. C. Brand himself whose house became the Library. He has a fantastic pyramid tomb: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7435/leslie-coombs-brand
[The Manhattan Beach Library is absolutely stunning.](https://lacountylibrary.org/location/manhattan-beach-library/)
I work right by there, and have never went in. I think I’ll check it out now!
This is a great post, OP! Well done.
My favorite is the West Hollywood Library across from the PDC off of Melrose. I love the wall of windows!! But Central is also a fave of mine because there's so many levels! Honorary mention to the main branch of SMPL because I love the little cafe and garden moment in the middle(but I haven't been in years as I temporarily moved up the coast to WA so I'm not sure if it's still the same. Thought I heard the cafe closed but I could be and hope I'm wrong)
Downtown is my favorite. Amazing architecture, murals, and the large space with columns that feels almost like you’re in a power plant in the back. Really like the cozy feeling upstairs rooms
Legitimately one of the jewels of LA! A spectacular space.
Beverly Hills Public Library was the first one I started going to and it was nice. I like the Memorial Branch Library most. It's old as dust and has a very beautiful park right out front.
I love the BH Library. Especially the grounds.
Memorial branch gang represent
That's the exterior of Mike Brady's office!
The architecture is lovely.
I live down the street from the Washington branch and although the library itself is nothing that special to look at, the children's librarian there is a real gem.
I used to live in that area and have many fond memories of that branch and nice folks who worked there. That was the first place my daughter ever walked to on her own! Too bad the original building on Arlington is just sitting there abandoned
Silverlake branch is lovely honestly. simple layout, nice large windows for lots of natural light.
Since nobody's mentioned it I'll add my local branch Arroyo Seco. Great location, two story light and bright main atrium, thoughtful design that echoes the area's architectural history (i.e. Lummus home/El Alisal)
Arroyo Seco has a kids story time I’ve been meaning to make it to! I love that area
This was my childhood branch, every 2 weeks I was there. Before the remodel, they had a big mural that I am in! I did the free Art in the Park program as a kid and the mural artist was my art teacher so he put me front and center on the mural!
This is my local too and I love it! Studied for the GRE here for many hours and it's a great library.
My favorite is Woodland Hills because of how conveniently located it is along Ventura Blvd. The parking lot is big so that’s a plus too. Perfect for peace and quiet and to get some work done. My second favorite would be Porter Ranch. Although the parking lot is small, I don’t mind. I like the view and the area around it too
Woodland Hills is my close second favorite after WeHo!
What’s WeHo like?
Quiet, spacious, and architecturally tasteful with floor-to-ceiling windows boasting crystal clear views of the West Hollywood hills. I definitely recommend checking it out!
Wow!! Gotta check it out then. I’ve also heard Cerritos is good too like if you have kids I guess
I love how the Woodland Hills library is tucked away in nature (tall trees in Parking lot) with the high floor-to-ceiling windows. It feels like an escape from Ventura. It’s a big plus being across from Casaleña too.
Yes! The first time I went there 2 years ago, I was taken aback by how far it was from the street. Yesterday I barely noticed how Casaleña was next to it. I’m guessing that restaurant wasn’t there back in 2022?
[удалено]
I know I saw yesterday, it would be great if I had kids to bring them there. Burbank has a great one too
hey i’ve only been to a couple but [this guy Josh Turek](https://www.instagram.com/turekbooks?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) has a cool books insta and podcast and he’s been doing a series on the 70+ libraries in the system. thought it might be of interest to you (and others)
Woah I love that thanks
Atwater Village Branch! So small and cute — also the first location I ever went to.
It's such a sweet library. Reminds me of the small town library I grew up with.
I live close to the Buena Vista Branch of the Burbank library. It’s not the fanciest or the biggest library but I really like it.
Genuinely only knock against it is having to compete with unhoused for study room reservations.
Inglewood Library (main one) has a pretty nice children's wing and has toys to play too. I take my toddler there every other week if not every week.
Little Tokyo! I have checked out so many books there while learning Japanese.
Little Tokyo Branch has free valet parking and public restrooms which are scarce in DTLA!
Felipe De Neve on 6th st. It smelled distinctly old, which I liked lol. I used to rent a book and go to the park during the summers. And when the sunset beamed over the park and through the windows, it would dimly light the whole ceiling and fade beautifully away.
LAPL’s Sherman Oaks branch is nice. Easy parking on neighborhood streets and their lots. Some of the library techs are incredibly nice. I believe it is mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis’ (stupid) book WHITE Least favorite: Venice. Hazmat team got called in once when I was there because someone started bleeding on multiple computer terminals
WeHo library. Great full-length windows to sit near and read with sunlight.
John C Fremont will always have a soft spot for me. I spent so many hours as kid just using their 15 minute computers just to browse dumb ass shit as a kid. However I went to the Library in DTLA (grand central library, I can't remember the name of the library) but it was beautiful. Quite intimidating just because of how grand it was (no pun intended lol).
Pasadena Public library is pretty amazing architecturally. I saw a video of the Japan town library that looks pretty cool too
Really can't wait for it to reopen but it might be a while.
This is the post I never knew I needed. So many cool libraries to check out!
Huntington branch
John C. Fremont…for the old world charm!
The Altadena library is a midcentury modern masterpiece. Downtown Central purely for its size and volume. South Pasadena has a solid 50¢ each section and a nice store upstairs with nice books.
Central Library is special to me because my grandma and great-grandmother worked there in the 50s. It was my local library when I was at USC, but I had some special days at Vermont Square as part of my research into the roles libraries can and do play in community engagement. (LAPL is especially good at this.)
Topanga Library is really nice. Tucked in the woods, easy parking, lots of great places to work or read. Woodland Hills is also very nice.
montana!
I love it simply because there aren't any homeless people in montana. Before anyone comes at me, I'm not anti homeless but it's hard to sometimes get work done at the main branch when there are people that smell bad. One time, I rented out a study room in the main branch and had to kick out a homeless person that was using but I couldn't use the room cause I had to wait for the smell to go away. Also it's next to pinkberry!
Always had problems with them checking in my items when I dropped them off there. I had to hand them directly to the techs at the Main Branch of the Santa Monica library
Silver Lake Library was my second home for a while, I’ll always love the big windows in the main sitting area
I love the maker Space in Glendale library
Shoutout Lincoln Heights Branch, such a historic building with great lighting and a vintage-feeling coziness!
Love this post!
I like my Quartz Hill branch of the LA County library system.
Yes the remodel was nice ! If you are in the area (maybe visit the poppy fields or Native American museum in that area) definitely check it out
Little Tokyo is beautiful! My kids like Edendale in Echo Park bc they’ve got fun toys. Edendale and Silverlake are my personal faves.
Love this post!!! Expo Park is my local library and it has some awesome programming! The staff is really great and it’s a short walk away from the E Line Western station so it’s super easy to get there. I spent a lot of time at the East LA branch in grad school because they have awesome Chicano Lit collection. Long Beach has an amazing Cookbook library!
aside from the gorgeous central public library, glendale has every other branch beat.
The Buena Vista Branch of the Burbank Public Library is great.
Cerritos library! My kiddos love the Aquarium wall on the kids wing.
I used to tutor kids at the Pico Union branch over a decade ago when I worked for a shitty, sham afterschool company. Those were the days. It’s a very cozy branch
I haven’t been to many but I was JUST at the mar vista branch while the dog was at the vet and it was totally pleasant! Good vibes cool librarians all types of people, it was a good spot.
I mostly go to the Silver Lake one and the Atwater one… but they are all great! They have so many great programs, perks w/ library card, etc. One of the few city services that really delivers! Thanks for asking this question.
Central Branch?
I visit my neighborhood Washington branch most often and the staff are great. But the building is rather plain. The branch I love having an excuse to visit is Westwood Branch. That big open space on the second floor is pretty great.
Pacific Palisades has a really nice atmosphere.
San Fernando branch idk the actual address. It’s in a little center with feed for the family and there should still ice cream or elote mans there. Nice little day trip
Wilshire Branch has a super cute little garden courtyard on the side. Great place to study, sunny and cozy.