Power another century of inspiration. creativity. connection. possibility.
For 100 years, the Richard J. Riordan Central Library has been more than a building.
As the heart of the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), it’s a beacon of knowledge, a sanctuary for stories, and a catalyst for possibility. The Library Foundation of Los Angeles invites you to join a once-in-a-century celebration to honor our shared past, celebrate the stories that define us, and build a future as limitless as Los Angeles itself.
Centennial Honorary Committee*
An extraordinary group of storytellers and cultural leaders joins us in championing the power of libraries.
*Confirmed as of 3/31/26
LeVar Burton
Actor, director, and lifelong literacy champion
Dolores Huerta
Labor leader and Civil Rights activist
Jimmy Kimmel
Television host, comedian, and producer
Cheech Marin
Actor, writer, director, comedian
Henry Winkler
Award-winning actor, director, producer, author
Kevin Kwan
Bestselling novelist
Susan Orlean
Bestselling author and acclaimed journalist
Lisa See
Bestselling novelist
Colm Toíbín
Renowned novelist and essayist
Charles Yu
Award-winning novelist and screenwriter
Be part of the next chapter.
Boldly investing in the future that Angelenos deserve
Your generosity ensures LAPL remains a catalyst for possibility in every neighborhood.
With your support, we aim to first raise $10 million to expand vital library programs, seed innovation in new technologies, revitalize spaces, and strengthen outreach that redefines what a library can be in the 21st century.
Reimagine library spaces
Invest in 21st-century technology and spaces that invite curiosity and creativity.
Empowering the
Library of the Future
Your gift to the Light of Learning Fund helps expand access to knowledge, invest in innovation, and ensure the Library continues to serve Los Angeles for the next 100 years.
Centennial Experiences
A year of innovation and inspiration
Join us! We’re marking this milestone with events and experiences that will surprise, delight, and inspire.
JANUARY
100 Year-old Time Capsule
MARCH 14
TasteBound: Speakeasy
100 Years of Cookbooking in LA
Transport back in time for an evening of iconic drinks through the decades, inspired by the LAPL’s extensive cookbook archives. Enjoy a festive atmosphere complete with 1920s-inspired spirits tastings, prohibition-era music, themed bites, dancing, and more.
APRIL 12
Stay Home and Read a Book Ball
Centennial Edition
Our beloved signature fundraiser invites you to sink into a great story from wherever you are—curled up at home, at a favorite library branch, or in a cozy café. With new opportunities to create personal fundraising pages, this year’s Ball turns a shared love of books into meaningful impact for communities across the city.
APRIL 23
Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America
MAY 2
Night at the Library:
A Century of Light
This immersive after-hours festival features over 200 performers, artists, and storytellers. Filled with interactive art, surprise performances, conversations with creators, live music, and dancing in the stacks, Night at the Library brings the Central Library to vibrant life after dark.
MAY 20
100 Years of Architecture in
Los Angeles
See Los Angeles through the eyes of our city’s most talented architects and designers and discover the influences that have shaped this vast cityscape. ALOUD presents an all-star panel discussion featuring Barbara Bestor, Leo Marmol, and Pamela Shamshiri, moderated by Frances Anderton. Journey through LA’s architectural legacy over the last 100 years of design innovation.
COMING SOON — JULY 12
World’s Largest Pop-up Book
COMING SOON
Centennial Gala
To close out our first Centennial Celebration year, the Library Foundation of Los Angeles is debuting a dazzling, reimagined annual fundraiser—our first‑ever star‑studded gala honoring the spirit of literature, creativity, and community.
Central 100
Join the Los Angeles Public Library for the centennial celebration!
Explore Central 100 for a calendar of events, a history podcast, special blog posts, and information about exhibitions on view at Central Library.
Shop the Centennial at
The Library Store
Stay tuned for more newly commissioned artworks, limited-edition keepsakes and exclusives created with world-class artists, honoring the library’s design legacy and cultural impact.
Lead the Centennial Moment
Major gifts to the Centennial Campaign fuel ambitious programs, landmark exhibitions, and enduring investments that will serve Los Angeles for generations to come. For those inspired to play a deeper role, there are opportunities to align your values with meaningful and lasting impact, including:
- Lead sponsorship of Centennial events and exhibitions
- Prominent recognition at Central Library and select branches across LAPL’s 73 libraries
- Capital investments to prepare Central Library for the next century
- Naming opportunities for iconic spaces, collections, and initiatives at Central Library
- Legacy giving opportunities, including endowed funds, passion assets, and estate gifts
- Exclusive donor experiences, including private tours and behind-the-scenes access
Contact Alex Nguyen, Director of Major and Planned Giving at alexnguyen@lfla.org to learn more about leadership giving opportunities.
Thank you to our Centennial Supporters
100 for 100
The following supporters have made the extraordinary commitment of $100,000+ to celebrate 100 years of creativity, connection, and possibility at the Library.
$250,000+
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
Dean Hansell
Judith and Steve Krantz Foundation
$100,000+
Maxwell Anderson / June Street Charitable Foundation
Anonymous (2)
Debi and Norris Bishton
Ann and Dick Costello
Nancy and Donald de Brier
Linda Duttenhaver
Michael B. Keegan
Susan Frances Moley / Moley Family Foundation
The Muriel Pollia Foundation
Aviva Weiner
$50,000+
Anonymous
Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation
Christy McAvoy
Maria Seferian
$25,000+
The Mark E Pollack Foundation
Abby Sher
$10,000+
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
Christine Bloom
