The Library Book by Susan Orlean *****

The Library Book by Susan Orlean is an engaging history of the Los Angeles Central Library with an emphasis on the 1986 fire— “the single biggest library fire in the history of the United States.” While the book repeatedly returns to the fire, it ranges freely over many book and library-related topics, including book burnings, arson investigations, the changing role of libraries, architecture, and the biographies of head librarians.

The first recorded instance of book-burning was in 213 BCE in China. In modern times, UNESCO estimates the number of books destroyed to be in the billions, but this is not always “book burnings.” War is the predominant cause. Libraries are often collateral damage when cities are attacked.

Libraries grow more inclusive over time. Early libraries charged a subscription fee, had age requirements for membership, and restricted access to some books. Over time all these barriers have been lifted. Today, libraries are among the very few public spaces open to everyone. For some in downtown LA, the library is not only a source of books, but also a place to get out of the rain, access Internet, and even apply for services.

Los Angeles has had many interesting librarians. An early head librarian walked from Chicago to Los Angeles to assume the reigns. When the library board attempted to remove Mary Jones “because she was not a man,” The Great Library War went on for years.

A must-read for anyone interested in Los Angeles, libraries, or arson.