The Library will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

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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
Ceiling of the Central Library Rotunda.
Sundays 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...

three people playing koto and a person in komono
January 18, 2026 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Experience the beauty of Japanese New Year traditional through a live Ikebana demonstration, enchanting Koto music, and an elegant Kimono...

globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Sundays at 3 p.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.
Tuesdays at 11 a. m.
Walk-in Tutors assist adult patrons with reading, writing, English conversation, basic technology assistance, job applications, and...

a young African-American man smiling sitting on a couch, looking down at a laptop that's on a small table, with headphones on
Tuesdays from 12 noon - 1 p.m.
Did you know that the Los Angeles Public Library lends e-books, audiobooks, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, comic books, and more to...

Globe chandelier located in the Central Library rotunda
Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m.
Take an hour-long tour through the Los Angeles Central Library. Your docent guide will share stories about the history, art, and...

blue peacock and blue yiddish writing
Third Tuesday of the Month at 1:30 p.m.
Join us for a lively Yiddish Class at the Library, instructed by Rabbi Golden. Whether you’re new to the language or reconnecting with it,...

A woman under a tree with a building in the background.
Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m.
Interested in learning Korean? Join us for an introduction to the Korean language and culture. This beginner-friendly class is taught by an...

Buildings and trees
Tuesdays at 3:40 p.m.
Build your fluency in this Korean conversation class. Led by a King Sejong Institute instructor, you’ll practice speaking and listening...

Child’s hands holding colorful LEGO-type building bricks.
Tuesdays, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Enjoy a weekly drop-in creative playtime using building bricks to express your imagination. Intended for ages 6-11. For more information,...



What We're Reading


Recent Blog Posts from LAPL Blog
January 15, 2026
By Daryl M., Librarian
Tod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the Gangsterland quartet: Gangsterland, a finalist for the Hammett Prize; Gangster Nation; The Low Desert, a... Continued
January 13, 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
January 12, 2026
By Tina Lernø, Librarian
Samantha Ellis is a playwright, author, and journalist. The daughter of Iraqi-Jewish refugees, she grew up thinking her family had travelled everywhere by magic carpet. Her plays include Patching... Continued
January 08, 2026
By Daryl M., Librarian
World Fantasy, Locus, and Mythopoeic Award–winning author and poet Theodora Goss was born in Hungary and spent her childhood in various European countries before her family moved to the United States... 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.

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