One of the Los Angeles Public Library's largest pieces of outdoor art can only be appreciated in photos now, after becoming a victim of Southern California's weather. Bison Hunt, a 50-foot-by-26-foot fresco by painter/printmaker/lithographer/woodcutter Charles Kassler Jr., once graced a patio wall at Central Library. The fresco, commissioned by the Library Board of Commissioners and approved...
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Bison Hunt by Charles Kassler Jr. graced the Central Library Children’s Courtyard from 1934 until 1963 [n.d.]. Los Angeles Public Library Institutional Collection
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Read it First: At Home Edition - Shakespeare with a Twist!
Did you know that scholars are uncertain as to Shakespeare’s actual birthday? We have a record of his baptism on April 26, 1564 and a burial marker that states he was 52 when he passed, but no more physical evidence to go on.
Shifting Into Second Gear: More Odes to My First Car
Welcome to the penultimate batch of affectionate, exasperated, and always entertaining poems written by our staff about their first car. We threw down the challenge last week as part of National Poetry Month, and the response was automatic!
3-D Printing Face Shields in the Octavia Lab
When the library's Octavia Lab opened in June of 2019, it was envisioned as a collaborative work-space for creatives, makers, and hobbyists.
Sheer Perfection, No Objection, Near Confection: Poetry for Kids
"Sheer perfection, no objection, near confection" —Fred Rogers
When L.A. Fought the Pandemic and Won
It was a time when Angelenos should have been preparing to head out into the streets waving victory flags and knocking back belts of whiskey before the commencement of the dreaded Volstead act.
Odes to My First Car
In celebration of National Poetry Month, we gave Los Angeles Public Library staffers a poetry prompt—Write an Ode to Your First Car—and the response was Fast and Furious!
Read it First: At Home Edition - Shakespeare With Familiar Faces
Ah, April. The month we celebrate Spring, National Poetry Month and the birth (and death) of one Mr. William Shakespeare. Arguably the most famous author of all time, Shakespeare’s works are perennial favorites, having been performed for centuries.
Library Backgrounds for Your Next Zoom Meeting / Tu biblioteca como fondo de Zoom
Are you using Zoom to communicate with colleagues, family, and friends while staying safe at home? Here's a gallery of library photos you can display as virtual backgrounds during your next meeting.
Stargazing: Looking Up
Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Stephen Hawking
Interview With an Author: Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson is the author of six novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and Her Every F