The Library Book

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The author reopens the unsolved mystery of the catastrophic library fire in American history, chronicling the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) fire and its aftermath to highlight the essential role libraries play in our lives. The narrative explores the evolution of libraries globally, showcasing their transformation into community cornerstones. Through on-the-ground reporting, the author brings the library's departments to life, shares personal experiences, and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the actor long suspected of igniting the fire. The disaster reached 2000 degrees and burned for over seven hours, consuming four hundred thousand books and damaging seven hundred thousand more. Investigators have pondered the question of whether the fire was set intentionally, and more than thirty years later, the mystery endures. In addition to the fire's circumstances, the author delves into LAPL's history, introducing a cast of characters from the past and present. This includes Mary Foy, the first female head of LAPL in 1880, and Dr. C.J.K. Jones, known as "The Human Encyclopedia." The narrative also features Charles Lummis, an eccentric journalist who aimed to elevate the L.A. library's status, alongside the dedicated staff of the twenty-first century, who work tirelessly to keep the institution vital for the city it serves.