By Susan Orlean
This fascinating book is part who-done-it, part history, and partly the story of the mission of a modern urban library. In 1986, a fire spread through the Los Angeles Public Library, destroying hundreds of thousands of books and rendering the library unusable for the 5 years it took to rebuilt it. Though a suspect was identified, he was never charged. The author interviews the late man's family and friends and researches fire dept records and news reports, but is unconvinced that Harry Peak was responsible. Throughout her story Orlean delves into the library's history, including its early female library directors and some of the strange male directors who succeeded them, the library building completed in 1926 and designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue (who also designed the Pawtucket Public Library). Orlean interviews many current library staff, including the director (who wears many hats and seems to be in 10 places at once - whether seeing to a new program at a branch or reaching out to the many homeless who "live" at the library during the day) and heads of many departments. It's clear that this library has evolved with the city - a job all institutions must do to still be needed. A surprisingly good read, and the book itself is illustrated to resemble an old fashioned library book with a facsimile of a library card in a pocket in the front.
