Join us for a day of panel discussions, workshops, and other activities celebrating the written word, self-expression, and DIY culture!
Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Central Library
Celebra con nosotros la palabra escrita, la autoexpresión y la cultura DIY con charlas, mesas de conversación, talleres y muchas otras actividades.
Sábado 22 de noviembre de 2025, de 11 a.m. a 4 p.m. en la Biblioteca Central
Print & Protest: Zines as Tools for Activism
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Join Librarians Ziba Pérez and Yago Cura for an inspiring workshop on the powerful role of zines in social and political movements. Learn about the history of zines as vehicles for protest and self-expression, and discover how to create your own zine to amplify your voice and advocate for change.
Unlock LAPL: A Research Workshop for Writers
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Need to get more information on a topic for the book you're writing? We've got you covered! Our research experts, Librarians Christa Deitrick and Kelly Wallace, will walk writers through the abundant print and electronic resources and tools available at the Library to take your book to the next level.
El caso muy peculiar de editar y escribir desde la frontera
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Location: International Languages
En esta charla la editora y escritora Sidharta Ochoa narrará las particularidades de hacer y editar literatura desde la frontera, como zona límite, liminal. El público asistente conocerá estrategias de escritura/publicación como actos de resistencia fronteriza.
Unleashing Your Inner Poet: A Workshop on Creating Poetry
Time: 12 noon - 12:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
It's time to channel your inner poet with award-winning poet, educator, and former Poet Laureate of Altadena, Teresa Mei Chuc! If you're looking for an introduction to poetry, a chance to brush up on your creative writing, or an opportunity to collaborate, connect, and engage, this program is for you!
Writing Across Ages: Crafting Stories for Adults, YA, and Children
Time: 12 noon - 12:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Join us for a riveting, moderated discussion panel of authors specializing in writing for children, teens, and adults! If you've ever been curious about crafting a story for an audience or are interested in learning about different authors' trajectories within the independent publishing space, come join us! Jessica Abughattas' debut book Strip won the Etel Adnan Poetry Prize, and her poetry has appeared in The Kenyon Review, POETRY, The Nation, Guernica, The Yale Review, and elsewhere. She was the poet laureate of Altadena from 2020 to 2022. David Damian Figueroa is the author of El Oz, a publicist, philanthropist, and an accomplished co-director and producer of several documentary films that highlight farmworkers' rights and social justice issues. Recognized for his contributions to Latino civil rights, his work is archived at UCLA, and he has received multiple awards, including the Dolores Huerta Award. Antoine Bandele is a YouTuber, producing work for his own channel, which mostly covers Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is also an audiobook engineer. Whenever he has the time, he's writing books inspired by African folklore, mythology, and history.
Historietas colaborativas
Time: 12 noon - 12:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
El taller colaborativo de cómic, impartido en español, busca fortalecer la comunidad y abrir un espacio de diálogo en torno a la comunicación visual.
Visualizing Memory: A Memoir Zine Workshop
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Poets and zine makers Sofia Aguilar and Paula Macena created Los Angeles: the zine to honor and celebrate the communities affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. In this workshop, they'll bring their experience, artistry, and expertise to help you make your own memoir zine. Sofía Aguilar (she/they) is a Chicana writer, editor, and library professional based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in the L.A. Times and Refinery29, to name a few. She has authored many zines and chapbook publications and made a debut in children's literature with Queer Latine Heroes: 25 Changemakers from Latin America and the U.S. from History and Today. Paula Macena has been featured in Junior High the Magazine, Fierce by Mitú, and other publications, and her most recent poetry collection, Penance of the Byronic Hero, was published in June 2023. She is the founder and director of Pluto's, a creative collective that highlights local poetry and music.
A Children's Author's Journey: Navigating the Path from Independent to Big Publishing
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
If you're a fan of children's books and want to learn about making the jump from indie publishing to the big five, this program is for you! Helena Ku Rhee is an award-winning author of stories for kids and the young at heart. Her books include The Paper Kingdom, Sora's Seashells and Shoes Off, Please. She is also an essayist with opinion pieces in The Los Angeles Times and Salon.
De escritor a autor: perspectivas de una autora galardonada
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
Pasos a seguir para convertirse en un autor de libros—Esta charla ofrecerá sugerencias y compartirá experiencias para alcanzar la meta de ser un autor publicado. Habrá oportunidad para preguntas y respuestas.
Drawing Stories: A Comic Strip Workshop
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Join us for a comic strip workshop led by industry veteran Steven Weissman, a cartoonist and illustrator for Fantagraphics Books, The Stranger, Super Deluxe, and more. He is the author of over ten books and has been a faculty member at the Art Center College of Design since 2006.
The Past, Present and Future of Publishing: Perspectives from the Indie Scene
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Join us for a moderated discussion between independent publishing veterans Terri Accomazzo from Angel City Press, Tobi Harper Petrie from Red Hen, and Karen Chan from Gloo Books. Terri Accomazzo is the editorial director for Angel City Press at the Library and has more than 15 years of experience in academic and trade publishing, with many of them best-selling and award-winning. Tobi Harper Petrie is Deputy Director of Red Hen Press, Founder and Editor of Quill, Publisher of The Los Angeles Review, and Instructor in the UCLA Extension Writers' Program for Publishing and Editing. Karen Chan founded Gloo Books in 2021, an independent children's publishing company creating books for a more inclusive, just, and compassionate future.
Equipaje invisible: llo que cargamos al migrar
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
Un espacio creativo y seguro para explorar, a través de la poesía, las emociones, recuerdos y aprendizajes que llevamos con nosotros al migrar o atravesar cambios significativos en la vida. Esta actividad invita a la reflexión personal, la expresión artística y la conexión con la identidad como formas de sanación y entendimiento.
Zine Folding Demonstration With Nova Community Arts
Time: 2 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Octavia Lab
Zines are a DIY form of rapid publishing that is a great way to share your thoughts, poetry, drawings, comics, or more! In this class, you’ll learn how to fold and assemble several types of zines using various methods, including X-Fold, T-Cut, Snake, and Pamphlet Stitch zines. You will leave with instructions and templates to help you incorporate these techniques into your next zine projects! All supplies are provided. Nova Community Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art studio that offers arts education and access to materials and equipment in Los Angeles.
Registration is required to attend this program. To participate, please email rsvpoctavialab@lapl.org.
Imagination Station: A Young Storytellers Workshop
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Jess Doss from Young Storytellers will lead a dynamic storytelling workshop for ages 8-18. Young Storytellers is a non-profit organization that elevates young voices to bring powerful new perspectives into our communities. Come discover your authentic voice and bring your story to life!
You've Written Your Book, Now What?
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
If you've finished writing your book and you're wondering what to do, we've got two experts to shed light on the world of indie publishing, sensitivity reading, editing, marketing, and publicity. Our panelists include Isabel Ngo, a freelance book editor, and Alyssia Gonzalez, the founder of Oso Literary PR, a boutique marketing and publicity agency specializing in fiction and creative nonfiction.
Del periodismo a la página: cómo crear y publicar tu libro
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
Periodista, autora y fundadora de Con Todo Press, comparte su experiencia en medios y edición independiente. Ofrecerá herramientas e inspiración para escritores que buscan contar sus historias y publicar con propósito.
More Information
Parking
- The Los Angeles Public Library does not own or operate public parking facilities in the vicinity of the Central Library. Limited reduced-rate parking is available at the parking garage located at 524 South Flower St., directly underneath Central Library.
- Parking validation for this parking garage is available at the Information Desk. Parking validation rates of $1, payable at the parking garage only between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Westlawn Garage 524 S. Flower St.
- Flat rate with library validation $1
Public Transportation
- Public transportation is highly encouraged. The Metro A (Blue), B (Red), and D (Purple) Lines have stops near Central Library. Most buses that come downtown stop near the Central Library. Check the Metro website for rates, routes, and schedules.
- Downtown residents are encouraged to take the DASH "B" route to Central Library. Service runs every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit ladottransit.com/dash for more info.
Frequently Asked Questions | Preguntas Frecuentes
How much is admission? | ¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada?
The event is free and open to all. All activities, author programs, and workshops are free.
El evento es gratis. Todas las actividades, horas de cuento, funciones, programas de autores, y talleres son gratis.
Do I need to register? | ¿Necesito registrarme?
No, but select in-person programs have limited capacity and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis for attendance.
No, pero algunos programas presenciales tienen una capacidad limitada y se llenarán por orden de llegada.
Where will the event take place? | ¿Dónde se llevará a cabo el evento?
Indie-Pendent Voices will take place in various areas of the Los Angeles Central Library, including the Taper Auditorium Lobby and Courtyards, International Languages department, Octavia Lab, Meeting Room A, and Meeting Room B.
El festival Indie-Pendent Voices se llevará a cabo en varias áreas de la Biblioteca Central, incluyendo el lobby y los patios del Auditorio Mark Taper, el Departamento de Idiomas Internacionales, el Laboratorio Octavia, el Salón de Reuniones A, y el Salón de Reuniones B.
Is there going to be food? | ¿Va a haber comida?
The festival will not be providing food, however there are many food options in Downtown Los Angeles around Central Library.
En el festival no habrá comida; sin embargo, hay muchas opciones de comida en el centro de Los Ángeles alrededor de la Biblioteca Central.
Do I need a library card? | ¿Necesito tener tarjeta de biblioteca?
A library card is not needed to attend the event. If you don’t already have a Los Angeles Public Library card, we encourage you to sign up for one at the Circulation Desk located on the first floor. Library cards are free to residents of California, and the Los Angeles Public Library no longer charges late fines!
Parking validation is available at the library's Information Desk (first floor). Patrons can obtain validation upon presenting a valid library card.
No es necesario tener tarjeta de la Biblioteca Pública de Los Ángeles para asistir al evento. Sin embargo, puedes obtener una en el mostrador de circulación ubicado en el primer piso. Las tarjetas de la biblioteca son gratis para las personas que viven dentro del estado de California.
Validación de estacionamiento estará disponible en el mostrador de información (ubicado en el primer piso), los usuarios pueden obtener validación de estacionamiento cuando presenten su tarjeta de biblioteca.
Will I be able to purchase books? | ¿Podré comprar libros?
Yes, The Library Store will be in the Taper Auditorium Lobby from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., selling select Indie Author and Zine titles. The books will also be available for sale in the Library Store, which is located on the first floor, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sí, The Library Store estará en el lobby del Auditorio Mark Taper de 10:00 a.m. a 1:30 p.m. con algunos de los títulos de los autores independientes y zines de venta. Los libros también estarán disponibles en The Library Store,ubicada en el primer piso de 1:30 p.m. a 5:00 p.m.
Is the festival ADA-compliant? | ¿El festival respeta las reglas del ADA?
Yes. Central Library is fully accessible throughout the building. Flower and Fifth Street entrances have ramps. For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.
Sí. La Biblioteca Central es accesible en su totalidad. Hay rampas de acceso ubicadas en las entradas de las calles Flower y Fifth. Para ajustes según el ADA, por favor llama al (213) 228-7430 por lo menos 72 horas antes del evento.
Will author signings be available? | ¿Estarán firmando libros los autores?
Yes, this year, author signings will be offered immediately following their sessions.
Sí, este año las firmas de autores se llevaron a cabo después de los programas.
Are you an author or community organization interested in participating in 2026?
Contact us below if you're an author or the representative of an organization interested in participating in next year's (2026) Indie-Pendent Voices celebration. Opportunities include hosting a program, workshop, or tabling.
¿Eres un autor independiente o representas a una organización comunitaria interesada en participar en 2026?
Completa el formulario de solicitud de participación. Las oportunidades para participar en este evento incluyen coordinar un programa, taller o una mesa de información.
Thank you to our community partners!
