Doesn’t this building remind you of a quaint Italian villa? Welcome to the Cahuenga Branch Los Angeles Public Library. This library is not just a place for books. It is a landmark with a rich history.
The Cahuenga Branch Library has been serving the East Hollywood area since 1916. It stands as the third oldest branch library facility in the Los Angeles Public Library system. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie provided a grant for its construction. The Cahuenga Branch was the last of six libraries built with Carnegie’s gift of 210.000$. Clarence H. Russell designed the building in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. He also helped build Venice and its canals.
Originally, the library was planned for Santa Monica Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. The Library Board chose a site at Santa Monica and Madison because it cost less. The city purchased the land through an assessment district. The Cahuenga Branch opened its doors on a cold rainy day. That day was December 4, 1916. City Librarian Everett Perry welcomed the East Hollywood community. He encouraged everyone to use the books and resources. Perry even spoke about what was proper reading. He said the library would exclude trashy novels.
The Cahuenga Branch Library has a unique floor plan. It is known as the butterfly type. This design allows staff to easily supervise the entire floor from a central desk. The library had separate reading rooms for children and adults. It also featured an auditorium that could seat 300 people. Imagine attending a lecture or community meeting in that very space. An open-air reading room was located at the northwest corner.
The library’s name “Cahuenga” has local Indigenous roots. It is derived from the Tongva word “Kawee’nga.” This translates to “place of the hill” or “place of the fox.” “Kawee’nga” was originally the name for a Tongva settlement in the San Fernando Valley.
The Cahuenga Branch has adapted to community changes over the years. During World War I, the library served as a bandage-rolling site. People sang together weekly until the 1918 flu epidemic. By the 1960s and 70s, the neighborhood became more diverse. Asian, Latino, Russian, and Armenian residents arrived. The library responded by offering multilingual resources. It also began classes in English and citizenship.
In 1990, the Cahuenga Branch closed for seismic upgrades and renovations. It reopened in 1996 with computer workstations and new technology. Patt Morrison of the Los Angeles Times noted the historic collision. Steel baron Carnegie and silicon baron Bill Gates both contributed to the library.
The Cahuenga Branch celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. The library received its Historic-Cultural Monument designation in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Today, the Cahuenga Branch Los Angeles Public Library stands as a testament to the power of community and the enduring importance of libraries. It continues to serve the diverse needs of East Hollywood. The Cahuenga Branch Library provides books and resources for all.