Los Angeles Central Library

The main library (600 West 5th Street), which has 65 branches in Los Angeles, suffered a serious fire in April 1986. At that time the whole patent collection was destroyed, as well as 400,000 of the 2.3 million volumes. Only 400,000 books remained undamaged.

The building, recently restored and modernized, was erected in the years 1922-26. It is worth visiting the interestingly arranged internal rooms, some with murals depicting the history of California.