Testimonials

We welcome statements of support for the Library from well known people in all fields. Please email us with your brief remarks.

I would be not an internationally known Director of Photography or Cinematographer (ASC) today if the Los Angeles Public Library had not existed and worked so hard for me back in the 1950s. The woman in charge of the Baldwin Hills branch took me through every pertinent volume in her library regarding television, photography and motion pictures. Then I took the bus to the downtown Main Library where she had arranged for me to see historic books from "the stacks" and bound volumes of period magazines. This education was free with my library card. Do not let that opportunity be taken from your constituents. Inter-branch charges will be just a first step. Please keep our Libraries free.
Allen Daviau, ASC, 5-time Oscar nominee, Best Cinematography for "Avalon," "Bugsy," "The Color Purple," "Empire of the Sun," and "E.T."

I am a longtime user of the LAPL and the interlibrary loan service and a published author with many books in the LAPL system. As a read aloud volunteer at Mayberry Elementary school, I use this service to get the perfect books to read to the students. For example, I used the interlibrary loan service to get books on opera to read aloud to the kids in preparation for their field trip to the LA Opera. As a young adult author, I find it appalling to be charging $1 for interlibrary loan. This charge will affect the people of our city who can least afford books the most, kids. By having this charge you are essentially cutting the options for students to get ahead. I urge you to reconsider and to find another way to generate income to restore the book buying budget.
Cecil Castellucci, author of "The Queen of Cool," "Beige" and "Boy Proof"

The Los Angeles Public Library system was the temple of my self-education. I am a Los Angeles native, and frequented the Fremont branch on Melrose and June throughout my childhood. In my teens, I took the bus downtown to walk between the sphinxes, marvel at the world globe chandelier in the great pyramid, and wander amid the stacks, inhaling gravitas and antiquity. Young people may love the glut of new books at Borders, but seldom have as much cash as they have intellectual curiosity. Also, where is a person to find a book that is not on a major publisher's front list? Certainly not in a big box bookstore. We need well stocked and easily accessible libraries just as we need public schools. It's just common sense.
Alicia Bay Laurel, artist/musician/author of "Living on the Earth"

If it wasn't for the Downtown Library, I wouldn't have been able to start up my press TamTam Books. I found a book there called "I Spit on Your Graves" that started my Boris Vian fixation. Also I read a lot of the old Fantomas (in English) books at that library.
Tosh Berman, publisher

We love our libraries, we get new books every week. Our kids are young and love to read. I have been working on a TV show for Cartoon Network and can't find the references I need online. I get books from the library, it's all there. Thanks for fighting for the libraries!
Tony Millionaire, cartoonist

This proposed fee would have a huge impact on using the library since the new branches seem to have very few books in order to make more room for computer stations. I have to get almost all the books I use or read via interlibrary loan because of the paucity of books in any one branch. And because I can't look at the book beforehand, I need to order quite a few in order to end up with the book that would actually be useful. Please don't do this.
S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times restaurant critic

I use the public library constantly. As a child I used books to hide from a turbulent childhood. As an adult I use the library for pleasure reading, to listen to books on tape when I work in my studio, and for research. The library was invaluable to me as the artist for the Van Nuys Metro Orange Line Station. The books I received from inter-branch loans helped me create artwork that reflected the history of Van Nuys. My neighborhood library, Mar Vista Branch, is very small with limited parking and a limited amount of books for adults. Therefore, the majority of books and books on tape I check out are from other branches. Based on what I currently check out of the library I am estimating that the proposed inter-branch loan fee would cost me $20.00 to $30.00 per month on average, making going using the library a burden in this economy.
Roxene Rockwell, Van Nuys Metro Station artist