Print this page

Central Library

Central Library Exterior
Address:
630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone:
213-228-7000
Email:
Contact form
Librarian:
Kren Malone, Director

Hours of Service

Mon: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Tues: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Weds: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thurs: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fri: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sat: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sun: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Upcoming Events at Central Library
Portrait of Tien Nguyen
March 14, 2026 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Restaurant menus are ephemera that can reveal fascinating stories and compelling histories. Drawing from the Los Angeles Public Library’s...

Globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...

An instructor and a student review a workbook.
Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.
Walk-in Tutors assist adult patrons with reading, writing, English conversation, basic technology assistance, job applications, and...

Sophie Loren and Marcello Mastroianni
March 14, 2026 1:00 PM
Domenico, a passionate businessman, faces the clever and comedic schemes of his longtime friend Filumena, who fights to win him back after...

An instructor and a student review a workbook.
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Walk-in Tutors assist adult patrons with Math, reading, writing, English conversation, basic technology assistance, job applications, and...

Every Saturday from 1- 2:20 p.m.
This class is for adults who want to learn about current events using a newspaper called News for You and other materials. Adults will...

STAR Volunteer reading to children
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Children are invited to share the joy of storytelling and reading with our STAR volunteer Destiny.

Six children sitting on the floor, clapping, with the arm and shoulder of an adult in the foreground.
March 14, 2026 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Enjoy stories, songs, and much, much more! Intended for ages 3-8. For more information, please contact children@lapl.org.

A chandelier in the Rotunda at Central Library
Saturdays at 2 p.m.
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...

Karen Golden on a colorful background
March 14, 2026 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Calling all writers! Celebrate Women's History Month with "Tales of Women, Witty and Wise." Join master storyteller Karen Golden for an...



What We're Reading


Recent Blog Posts from LAPL Blog
March 12, 2026
By Daryl M., Librarian
Anna Kovatcheva was born in Bulgaria and now lives in Brooklyn. She holds an MFA in fiction from New York University. Her chapbook, The White Swallow, was selected by Aimee Bender as the winner of... Continued
March 11, 2026
By David B , Librarian
On March 13, 2000, the new, expanded Teen’Scape Department at the Central Library opened with great fanfare. (This replaced the smaller Teen’Scape Department that existed at Central from 1998-2000.)... Continued
March 09, 2026
By Elizabeth Graney, Librarian
If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times—the book was better! There's nothing like debating the differences between a favorite book and its translation to the screen. But if you don't... Continued
March 05, 2026
By Daryl M., Librarian
Terence Keel is a professor of human biology, society, and African American studies at UCLA. His latest book is The Coroner's Silence: Death Records and the Hidden Victims of Police Violence and he... Continued

Meeting Rooms

The Literature & Fiction (Upper Level 3) and Business Department (Lower Level 1) have glass-enclosed meeting rooms available for use.

Guidelines

  • Meeting Room hours
    Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
    Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Sunday: 1 - 4:30 p.m.
  • Sign ups on the hour or half hour
  • Must have a valid library card
  • Reservations must be made in person, day of and up to one day in advance
  • Two hours per floor per patron
  • Water allowed. No food or drink
  • Three or more people required for large (6 chair) rooms
  • Furniture and chairs must not be moved
  • Dry erase markers and erasers available upon request
  • All library rules apply: Patrons in violation of library rules may be refused service.

Top