Los Angeles Central Library

The Los Angeles Central Library is officially named the “Richard J. Riordan Central Library,” and acts as the main branch and headquarters for the Los Angeles Public Library network. It’s located in Downtown Los Angeles and was named after a former mayor of Los Angeles.

The Central Library is a historic Los Angeles landmark, and the third largest central library in the nation in terms of book holdings with its subject departments containing nearly 3 million books, 5,000 magazine subscriptions, more than 3 million photographs and an impressive number of language learning and multimedia materials. Its sturdy structure has stood the test of time through multiple attempts of arson and countless historical happenings in DTLA. 

There are two buildings that make up the library — the Goodhue Building dating back to 1926 — which is actually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Tom Bradley addition of 1993. The building itself features 538,000 square feet of space across eight floors, with nearly 90 miles of shelves and seating that can accommodate more than 1,400 people.

There are 255 free public access computers located in the Computer Center and throughout the building. The library is known for hosting numerous events open to the public, such as movie nights and language classes, so that everyone may enjoy the space. 

The building features a beautiful interior and exterior. It's truly an amazing work of design by architect Bertham Grosvenor Goodhue who was inspired by influences of ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture. 

Inside, guests will find lavish decor such as statues, chandeliers and a four-part mural by illustrator Dean Cornwell depicting stages of the History of California, which dates back to 1933. Outside, the iconic tiled pyramid on the central tower can be seen from blocks away.