Lincoln Heights Branch Library facts for kids
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Lincoln Heights Branch
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Lincoln Heights Branch, May 2008
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2530 Workman St., Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Lester H. Hibbard and H.B. Cody |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance Revival, Classical Revival |
| MPS | Los Angeles Branch Library System TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001013 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1987 |
The Lincoln Heights Branch Library is a very old library in Los Angeles, California. It is the second oldest branch in the Los Angeles Public Library system. This special building is located in the Lincoln Heights area.
It was built in 1916 with money from Andrew Carnegie. He was a rich businessman who helped build many libraries. The library's style mixes Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival designs. It is one of only three Carnegie libraries still standing in Los Angeles. Because of its history, it is now a Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Library's Early Days and Design
The story of the Lincoln Heights Branch Library began in 1900. Back then, it was just a small delivery spot for books. Later, in 1907, it joined with another branch. This new "East Los Angeles Branch" operated from a rented space starting in 1913.
In 1911, the Los Angeles Public Library received a big gift. Andrew Carnegie donated $210,000 to build six new libraries. The Lincoln Heights Branch was one of them. The plans for the new library were approved in 1915. Architects Lester H. Hibbard and H.B. Cody designed the building. Their design was inspired by an old Italian villa near Rome.
The new library opened its doors in August 1916. It was first called the Northeast Branch Library. The building has a unique shape, like a quarter circle. It also has extensions on each end. The design combines Italian Renaissance and Colonial styles. The main part is Italian Renaissance, and the ends are Colonial.
One cool feature was an outdoor reading garden. It was a covered area with benches where people could read outside. The library also had a large auditorium. It had a stage and could seat 340 people. Inside, you could see beautiful old English oak wood.
By 1919, the area became known as Lincoln Heights. So, the library's name changed to the Lincoln Heights Branch. In 1922, a special sculpture of Abraham Lincoln was given to the library. In 1975, the community voted to give the library a new name. They called it "Biblioteca del Pueblo de Lincoln Heights," which means "Library of the People of Lincoln Heights."
Why the Library is Historic
Andrew Carnegie paid for six libraries in Los Angeles. Today, only three of these Carnegie libraries are still standing. They are the Lincoln Heights, Cahuenga, and Vermont Square branches.
The Lincoln Heights Branch was named a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1983. This means it's an important part of the city's history. In 1987, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places important to the history of the United States.
The application for this honor noted the library's unique design. It said the building was in the Classical Revival style. Its most unusual part is its floor plan, which is shaped like a part of a circle. The main entrance has an arch. Concrete walkways lead up to it. The building has tall windows that let in a lot of light.
Earthquake Damage and Repairs
The library was damaged during the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. In March 1990, the library had to close. It was not safe because of the earthquake damage.
A big renovation project began, costing $3 million. The library reopened in June 1996. Workers made the building stronger to protect it from future earthquakes. They also made the library bigger. It grew from about 10,912 square feet to 12,912 square feet.
New carpet and air conditioning were added. A skylight that had been covered for over 50 years was uncovered. This brought more light into the reference area. New computer workstations were also installed. Plus, local artist Ricardo Rodriguez Duffy added beautiful ceramic artworks to the columns.
