North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library facts for kids
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North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library, Los Angeles
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North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library, 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 | 5211 N. Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Weston & Weston |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
| MPS | Los Angeles Branch Library System TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001018 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1987 |
The North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library is a special place for books and learning. It's part of the Los Angeles Public Library system. You can find it in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California. This beautiful building was built in 1930. It was designed in a style called Mediterranean Revival. Architects Weston & Weston created its look.
Contents
Cool Building Design
The North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library is a one-story building. It has a unique double roof made of red tiles. The top roof hangs over a row of seven windows. These windows are above the main entrance. They are framed by special designs called coat-of-arms. These belong to the family of a poet named Sidney Lanier. The lower roof is held up by strong cement columns. It covers office spaces and a patio that leads to the main entrance.
Inside the library, you'll see a ceiling with open beams. There's also a large fireplace. Above the fireplace, words are written in tile: "I am a small-winged bird, but I can conquer the world." These words are also by Sidney Lanier. The main desk where you check out books is in the middle of the building. When new parts were added to the library later, they used similar materials. This helped keep the original style of the building.
Library's Story
How the Library Started and Got Its Name
The North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library began a long time ago. It was first called the Lankershim Public Library. This was in the early 1900s. In 1923, the area became part of Los Angeles. Four years later, the neighborhood changed its name to North Hollywood. So, the library was renamed the Sidney Lanier Branch. This was because many Los Angeles libraries were named after famous writers back then. In 1929, the library moved to its current spot. The new building was designed by architects Louis Eugene Weston and Louis Eugene Weston Junior.
After World War II, many more people started using the library. This was because Los Angeles grew a lot. In 1956, an architect named John James Landon designed an addition. This new part almost doubled the library's size. It also included a new area just for kids. The new section was carefully made to match the original design.
In 1980, people in the community wanted to rename the library again. They wanted to honor the famous pilot Amelia Earhart. She had lived in North Hollywood and loved books. There was even a statue of her next to the library. The community voted, and the library board agreed. In 1981, the library officially became the Amelia Earhart Library. After this, some of Amelia Earhart's things were placed inside. These included photos and a scarf she owned.
Earthquake Damage and Fixes
In 1994, a big earthquake hit. It was called the Northridge Earthquake. The library was one of many buildings that got damaged. It had to close for a year for repairs. Architects from M2A helped fix the building. Much of the money for repairs came from a program called "Adopt-a-Branch." This program lets companies or people help fund library branches. For this library, MCA/Universal gave a lot of money. The library officially reopened on April 17, 1995.
Special Awards and Recognition
The North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library has received special honors. In 1986, it was named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. This means it's an important historical building in Los Angeles.
In 1987, this library and several other Los Angeles branch libraries were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. The application noted that these libraries were built in different old styles. They were part of the first library system in Los Angeles.
In 2003, the library won two awards. It received the Governor's Historic Branch Preservation Award. It also got the Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award. These awards were for the great repairs done by M2A architects. In 2004, the California Preservation Foundation also gave M2A an award for their preservation design work.
