About Us
The Library Foundation of Los Angeles provides critical support to the Los Angeles Public Library resulting in free programs, resources, and services available to the millions of adults, children, and youth in Los Angeles. Through fundraising, advocacy, and innovative programs, the Library Foundation strengthens the Los Angeles Public Library and promotes greater awareness of its valuable resources.
Empowering the readers, dreamers, makers, and doers of our city.
We make sure books are just the beginning at the Los Angeles Public Library. Every Angeleno can benefit from the programs, resources, and advocacy the Library Foundation of Los Angeles supports.
Our Impact
Adult Literacy Services
volunteers provide 10,000+ hours of one-on-one tutoring and participants attend classes more than 14,400 times to improve their reading, writing, and speaking skills each year.
The Library’s free, private Online Tutoring program
made 20,994 one-on-one sessions possible for LA students of all ages in 2024.
A lifelong love of reading
was inspired in 115,386 kids (and their caregivers) who came to one of the 3,729 programs delivered by children’s librarians across our city last year.
History
The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) has been serving our community since 1872. The Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) isn’t quite that old, but with our level of commitment, we’re making up for lost time. Our story begins in 1986 with the devastating arson fire that nearly decimated Los Angeles’ Central Library. In its wake, business leaders, community leaders, and thousands of volunteers rallied behind a campaign to “Save the Books,” replacing more than 400,000 volumes that had been destroyed.
One of those leaders was Lodwrick M. Cook, then-chairman and chief executive of ARCO. He was so inspired by the community’s outpouring of support he created a private partnership with Los Angeles city leaders to keep the momentum going. In 1992, using this successful model of partnership, he helped establish the Library Foundation—and became its first Board Chair —to continue buoying one of LA’s most valued public resources with private support.
Advocacy to protect our library
Over the years, LFLA has continued to support and raise awareness about LAPL. In 2011, LFLA’s support became critical again. When Los Angeles faced an unprecedented financial crisis, the Library suffered—losing 30 percent of its staff, and for the first time in its history, library service was cut to just five days a week. Our community rallied behind the Library and, with the help of LFLA, overwhelmingly passed Measure L, which restored library funds and service hours, ensuring that the LAPL resources Angelenos rely on are available to those who need them most.
A unique private-public partnership
Since then, our community support has continued. LFLA partners with all 73 LAPL branch locations to enhance the resources and services they offer. Over the last three decades, we’ve raised more than $178 million, which has gone toward everything from funding literacy programs to piloting a program to have social workers onsite at local branch libraries.
We are dedicated to keeping the Los Angeles Public Library open and thriving for generations to come.
"I think of the library as 'the last free lunch' — truly free, accessible to all, and a critical part of our democracy."
— Carol E. on Why I Give
Support your library.
We strive to transform the future of Los Angeles and the world through the power of libraries. Libraries are like windows into each community, and are at the heart of possibility, education, and democracy. Your support enhances high-caliber programs that nurture literacy, the imagination, and lifelong learning.
This work is made possible because of the people, foundations, community organizations, and businesses that give to the Library Foundation and share our belief in the transformational power of the Los Angeles Public Library for all Angelenos.
