“NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY: BUILDING STORIES” BRINGS AFTER-HOURS ART, MUSIC, AND STORYTELLING TO LA’S CENTRAL LIBRARY

Presented by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Public Library, LAist, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in association with LA Phil Insight

Saturday, March 8, 8 p.m. – Midnight
Richard J. Riordan Central Library, Los Angeles
Tickets: lfla.org/event/nightatthelibrary

LOS ANGELES (Feb 24, 2025) – The Library Foundation of Los Angeles, in partnership with select cultural institutions across the city, will present “Night at the Library: Building Stories” on Saturday, March 8, transforming the historic Richard J. Riordan Central Library into an immersive after-hours festival. The
ticketed event will feature live performances, interactive installations, and hands-on activities celebrating storytelling in all its forms.

Presented by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Public Library, LAist, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in association with LA Phil Insight, “Night at the Library: Building Stories” is a celebration of creativity and community. “Los Angeles is a city built on stories—through books, art,
music, and film—and the Central Library has always been a place where those stories live and thrive,” said Stacy Lieberman, president and CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. “With the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art set to open next year and LAist amplifying the voices of our city every day, we’re thrilled to collaborate with these dynamic LA institutions to create an unforgettable night that reminds Angelenos that libraries are not just about books—they are spaces for gathering, creativity, and discovery. This is an only-in-LA, only-at-Central-Library experience, where the magic of storytelling will come to life in every corner.”

Attendees will explore the library’s iconic spaces while enjoying drinks and bites and discovering a curated lineup of performances and experiences, including:

Dance, Music & Performance
Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs’ Distance Duet, a dance opera presented by LA Phil Insight.
A contemporary dance performance in the library’s dramatic Art Deco rotunda by BODYTRAFFIC.
A whimsical show from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater.
Sound installations by dublab.
Urban Voices Project, a choir of unhoused and formerly unhoused artists
Spoken word by poet Yesika Salgado.
Pickle, the City of West Hollywood’s Drag Laureate, reading bedtime stories.
Nicole Maines, actor and transgender rights advocate (Supergirl, Yellowjackets), leading a special story time session

Art & Hands-On Activities
A photo booth by Black Image Center, a collective celebrating Black narratives through photography and visual storytelling.
Drawing classes with Heavy Manners Library, an independent arts space fostering creative expression and community learning.
Tarot readings and an art installation by Edgar Fabián Frías, a multidisciplinary artist exploring mysticism, identity, and transformation.
Screen printing with Color Compton to create a personalized memento

Conversations & Pop-Ups
An immersive narrative experience with Mister and Mischief, a creative duo known for interactive theater and innovative storytelling.
Artist Joey Terrill in conversation with LAist reporter Cato Hernández.
Artist Narsiso Martinez in conversation with LAist host Brian De Los Santos.
An open mic hosted by PLUS ME, a nonprofit that empowers students through personal storytelling, founded by educator and storyteller Richard Reyes.
Pop-ups from Angel City Press, Golden Apple Comics, Heavy Manners Library, and Braille Institute.

And yes—attendees can sign up for a library card at the event.
Tickets and event details are available at lfla.org/event/nightatthelibrary.

Listing:
Night at the Library: Building Stories
Saturday, March 8, 2025, 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Los Angeles Central Library
630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
$15 General admission tickets, $75 VIP tickets
Tickets and information: lfla.org/event/nightatthelibrary
This event is open to ages 21 and up. Artists and lineup subject to change.

Presented by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Public Library, LAist, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. In association with LA Phil Insight.

About the Library Foundation of Los Angeles
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. For more information, please visit lfla.org.

About the Los Angeles Public Library
A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service—the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services—the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, collection of more than eight million books, state-of-the-art technology accessible at lapl.org and thousands of public programs provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for lifelong learning.

About the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s mission is to inspire and connect people through the exploration of visual stories and their influences in society. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson and led by director and CEO Sandra Jackson-Dumont, the Lucas Museum was designed by renowned architect Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec as executive architect and will open in Los Angeles’s Exposition Park in 2026. An 11-acre campus with extensive new green space designed by Studio-MLA will embrace the museum’s 300,000-square-foot building, which will feature expansive galleries, two state-of-the-art theaters, and dedicated spaces for learning and engagement, dining, retail, and events.

About the Richard J. Riordan Central Library
The Richard J. Riordan Central Library serves as the headquarters for the Los Angeles Public Library system, which includes 72 branches. As the nation’s third-largest central library, it houses over 2.8 million books, 5,000 magazine subscriptions, three million photographs, and 10 million digitally accessible U.S. patents. Since opening in 1926, it has been a cultural and architectural landmark, known for its tiled pyramid roof, mural-lined Rotunda, and modern Atrium wing added in 1993. Spanning 538,000 square feet across eight floors, it offers nearly 89 miles of shelving and seating for over 1,400 visitors. Highlights include the 235-seat Mark Taper Auditorium, the Getty Gallery, Octavia Lab, and The Library Store.