hardcover
Published Aug. 31, 2019 by Atlantic Books.
Chronicles the Los Angeles Public Library fire and its aftermath and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the actor long suspected of setting the fire, showcases the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives, and delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity.
On the surface this book is about the 1986 Los Angeles Central Library fire, but more than that, this is a love letter to libraries in general and the vital services they perform for the public. As someone who fairly recently re-discovered the joys of libraries, I cannot recommend this book more.
A modern and rambling history of libraries using the skeleton of the history of the Los Angeles library with recurring chapters telling the story of the Los Angeles library fire of 1986.
