By Annie Brenneis
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| The Los Angeles Library Central Branch |
The popularity of the Southern
California Genealogical Society’s annual Jamboree has helped direct
well-deserved attention to their impressive Family Research Library in Burbank.
As a native of Southern California who often makes the trek down I-5 to visit
family, many of my own research hours have been spent combing SCGS’s stacks.
Los Angeles also boasts a sizeable FamilySearch outpost, of course, but there
is one significant genealogy center in Southern California that seems to be
undeservedly underutilized!
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| West entrance frieze depicts passing the torch of knowledge |
In my late teens and young
adulthood, while still living in L.A. County, the Los Angeles Central Library
was a frequent haunt for this bookworm. Its destruction by fire in 1986 left me
quite bereft, but I am happy to report that over the years the L.A. Central
Library phoenix has had an impressive rebirth! With seven floors of books and
copious other resources available for the inquisitive public, the Richard J.
Riordan Central Library (its official name) is “the largest public research
library west of the Mississippi,” according to the Self-Guided Tour pamphlet
PDF available on their website.
If you visit LAPL’s Central
Library main page and click on
the Docent Tours link found near the top of the left side-bar, you will see a
schedule of daily tours of the library’s gorgeous art collections, garden, and
architecture, along with a link to the Self-Guided Tour pamphlet. If you look
back at the Central Library main page, under Planning Your Visit, you will find
a link to a PDF of their immensely useful Floor Map.
Once you have basked a bit in
the library’s inspirational surroundings, you can take either the elevator or
escalator down to the History and Genealogy floor, Lower Level 4. At the top
left of the Central Library main web page, click on Collections & Resources
and then Research Guides,
where you will find the link to a full-page rundown of the History and Genealogy Department’s holdings.
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| The beautiful glass-ceilinged atrium |
Highlights of L.A. Central’s
Genealogy collection of about 45,000 titles include City Directories on
microfilm and microfiche from all over the country (some L.A. directories
available digitally); U.S. Telephone Directories on paper and microfiche; about
10,000 family histories; and books on Heraldry and Coats of Arms, including
Hispanic and German, with a card index of family names. Their map collection is
extensive, with all of the USGS topographical maps and a great number of
gazetteers and atlases. A perusal of their U.S. and International Genealogy
Reference shelves reveals a remarkable array of titles. Having their History
collection on the same floor is convenient for background and contextual
research. No wonder I keep going back!
An extra perk at L.A. Central: their very easy-to-use free scanners. Not every floor has one, so you need to ask a librarian where they are, but they produce very clear images that can be stored on a thumb drive or, even better, emailed directly from the machine.
An extra perk at L.A. Central: their very easy-to-use free scanners. Not every floor has one, so you need to ask a librarian where they are, but they produce very clear images that can be stored on a thumb drive or, even better, emailed directly from the machine.
The library has a nice gift
shop that is worth a visit. There is a small, unimpressive food court in the
lobby, but it is much nicer to pack a sandwich to eat in the library garden
when you need a break.
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| Rotunda with murals by Dean Cornwell |
The only downside of the L.A.
Central Library is its inner-city location. As expected, there are uniformed
security personnel at each entrance, but they are as welcoming as they are
watchful, and the entire library staff does an excellent job of cultivating a
safe atmosphere. The real challenge for patrons is downtown traffic. They have
a paid parking lot, and last time I used it the cost was $9 with validation
that required my L.A. library card. However, I do not recommend driving in
downtown L.A., especially if you are unfamiliar with the area.
The Central Library main page
has a Directions link that includes tips for using L.A. Metro public transit. I
think the most fun way to the Central Library is to take a MetroLink train into Union Station and then hop onto the
DASH bus B toward the Financial District for the short ride to Grand Avenue and
5th Street. The train ticket includes free use of connecting buses—just show it
to the driver. The DASH bus B toward Chinatown takes you back to Union Station,
where Historic Olvera Street is right nearby. It's wonderful for a stroll, a
little shopping, and some tasty Mexican food. I recommend stopping for taquitos
at the Olvera Street food stand where they were invented--Cielito Lindo!
Annie Brenneis is a genealogist, researcher, and writer who lives in northern California. Her website is https://anniebee4history.wixsite.com/home
@Copyright 2018 California Genealogical Society
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