Richard J. Riordan Central Library
🏢 Los Angeles Public Library · Downtown Los Angeles, California
Richard J. Riordan Central Library
A monumental 1926 Bertram Goodhue landmark at the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the Richard J. Riordan Central Library is the flagship of the 72-branch LAPL system — rebuilt and expanded after twin 1986 arson fires into a 538,000-square-foot civic icon holding 2.8 million books, 3 million historic photographs, and the West Coast's largest patent collection.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am–5:30pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 630 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: (213) 228-7000
Website: lapl.org
Plus Code: 85633P2W+42 (Los Angeles, CA)
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📖 About Richard J. Riordan Central Library
The Richard J. Riordan Central Library — renamed in June 2001 to honor Los Angeles's 39th mayor after serving as the 'Los Angeles Central Library' since 1926 — is the flagship and headquarters of the 72-branch Los Angeles Public Library system. Designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue (completed after his 1924 death by associate architect Carleton Monroe Winslow), the building blends Egyptian, Mediterranean Revival, and early Art Deco influences in a landmark downtown tower topped by a mosaic pyramid. On April 29 and September 3, 1986, two separate arson fires destroyed approximately 400,000 volumes and damaged 750,000 more; the disaster galvanized a massive civic restoration effort. The library reopened on October 3, 1993 with the Goodhue Building fully restored and a new 360,000-square-foot Tom Bradley Wing — designed by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates — bringing the total to 538,000 square feet across eight floors. Today it is one of the largest central libraries in the nation, housing more than 2.8 million books, over 3 million historic photographs, 10 million digitally accessible U.S. patents, and one of the country's largest public-library map collections, all added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Iconic 1926 Goodhue architecture: Egyptian-Mediterranean tower with tiled mosaic pyramid, Lee Lawrie sculptures, and a rotunda with Dean Cornwell's four-panel California history murals (completed 1933) — listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1970)
- Twin 1986 arson fires: April 29 and September 3 blazes destroyed roughly 400,000 volumes and damaged 750,000 more; more than 250 firefighters from 49 companies battled the April fire
- 1993 Tom Bradley Wing: Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates added 360,000 sq ft underground with a glass-roofed atrium, bringing the building to 538,000 sq ft on eight floors
- USPTO Patent & Trademark Resource Center: the Science, Technology & Patents Department holds 10 million digitally accessible U.S. patents dating to 1790 — the largest patent collection on the West Coast
- 3 million historic photographs spanning the 1850s to the present, plus 200,000+ maps, 2,000 atlases, and 40,000 genealogy volumes in the History & Genealogy Department
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
LAPL cardholders get free access to a broad digital library — stream, download, and research from home:
📚 Services
- Reference services by phone, email, chat, and in-person across nine subject departments
- 255 free public-access computers plus Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Laptop lending for in-building use; wireless printing, scanning, and self-checkout
- Singleton Adult Literacy Center — adult literacy tutoring and walk-in services
- New Americans Center — resources and programs for immigrants and new residents
- Octavia Lab — in-library makerspace studio with equipment reservations
- Science, Technology & Patents Department — USPTO Patent & Trademark Resource Center, patent and trademark searching
- History & Genealogy Department — 40,000+ genealogy volumes, 200,000+ maps, California history indexes, Sanborn Fire Insurance Atlases
- Special Collections — rare books, 3 million+ photographs, and archival materials
- 235-seat Mark Taper Auditorium — free public programs (tickets required)
- KLOS Story Theater — children's programming space
- Maguire Gardens — 1.5-acre public park adjacent to the library
- Meeting rooms available for public reservation
- International Languages room with materials in 29 languages
- Docent-led art and architecture tours (weekdays 12:30pm; Sat 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm; Sun 2pm)
- Mobile device charging stations and ZoomText accessibility software
🎸 Programs
- ALOUD — 5–7 free public programs monthly at the Mark Taper Auditorium featuring authors, artists, and public figures
- Adult literacy tutoring and English conversation classes (Singleton Adult Literacy Center)
- Pronunciation, communication, and current events classes for adults
- Docent-led architecture and art tours of the Goodhue Building and Tom Bradley Wing
- Children's and teen programming at the KLOS Story Theater and Teen'Scape
- Robotics classes and STEM programming for youth
- Homebuyer fairs and personal finance workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries in Los Angeles
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Los Angeles · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Richard J. Riordan Central Library — wasn't it always the Los Angeles Central Library?
The library was known as the Los Angeles Central Library from its 1926 opening until June 2001, when the Los Angeles City Council renamed it in honor of Richard J. Riordan, who served as the city's 39th mayor from 1993 to 2001. Riordan was a major civic supporter during his tenure, and the renaming was approved as he left office. It remains the official name today, though many Angelenos still use 'Los Angeles Central Library' informally.
What happened in the 1986 fires, and how was the library saved?
Two separate arson fires struck in 1986. On April 29, a fire required more than 250 firefighters from 49 city companies to battle; an estimated 400,000 volumes were destroyed and 750,000 suffered water and smoke damage. A second arson on September 3 destroyed roughly 25,000 items in the music collection. The disaster spurred a massive civic and philanthropic campaign that funded a complete restoration of the Goodhue Building and a major expansion. The library temporarily relocated while construction ran from 1989 to 1993, reopening in full on October 3, 1993.
Can I use the library's patent resources even if I'm not a patent attorney?
Yes — the Science, Technology & Patents Department on Lower Level 2 of the Tom Bradley Wing is open to any library visitor. As a designated USPTO Patent & Trademark Resource Center, it holds U.S. patents dating back to 1790, British patents from the 17th century, and the complete Patent and Trademark Gazettes, making it the largest patent collection on the West Coast. Staff librarians can help orient you to computerized patent, trademark, and copyright searching.
Who designed the Central Library's famous building, and what style is it?
The Goodhue Building was designed by New York architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who died in April 1924 before construction began; associate architect Carleton Monroe Winslow completed the project, which opened to the public on July 6, 1926. Goodhue's design blends Egyptian, Mediterranean Revival, and early Art Deco influences: the exterior features a central tower crowned by a tiled mosaic pyramid and allegorical sculptures by Lee Lawrie. Inside, the rotunda's four 40-foot Dean Cornwell murals (completed 1933) depict stages of California history. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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