WHAT THE HAL?? PODCAST 2.0 – EPISODE 15: LA City Library at 100: Innovation, Community...
WHAT THE HAL?? PODCAST 2.0 – EPISODE 15
LA City Library at 100: Innovation, Community and a Century of Learning
For 100 years, the Los Angeles Public Library has served as a cornerstone of education, culture, and community engagement. But today’s library is much more than books on shelves.
In this episode, Hal Eisner, Elsa Ramon, and Hunter Lowry explore the past, present, and future of the Los Angeles Public Library with library leaders Christina Rice and Madeline Peña Feliz. From podcast studios and 3D printers to museum passes and technology lending programs, the conversation highlights how libraries continue to evolve to meet the needs of modern communities.
The discussion also looks back at the devastating 1986 Central Library fire, the community effort that helped rebuild one of Los Angeles’ most treasured institutions, and how libraries are preserving history while embracing emerging technologies.
KEY TOPICS
• Celebrating the Los Angeles Public Library’s 100th anniversary
• How libraries have evolved beyond traditional books and reading rooms
• The Octavia Lab and the growing role of technology in public libraries
• Library programs supporting immigrants, students, and lifelong learners
• Free access to museum passes, hotspots, STEM kits, and technology through a library card
• The impact of the 1986 Central Library fire and the community’s recovery efforts
• Preserving history through archives, artifacts, and time capsules
• The future of libraries in a digital world
• Career opportunities in library science and public service
• Why libraries remain one of the most valuable free resources available to communities
Support the podcast
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Original Theme Music Composed by Stuart Pearson
https://stuartpearsonmusic.com
Listen to Previous Episodes
https://audioboom.com/channels/4960408-what-the-hal
RESOURCES & LINKS
https://lapl.org
https://lapl.org/central100
https://lapl.org/branches/central-library
https://lapl.org/tech2go
https://libbyapp.com
CONNECT
Hal Eisner
https://instagram.com/haleisner/
https://facebook.com/haleisner/
https://x.com/HalEisner
Elsa Ramon
https://instagram.com/elsamramon/
https://x.com/ElsaMRamon
Hunter Lowry
https://instagram.com/serendipitychick/
Transcript
LA City Library is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Speaker A:I'm Hal Eisner with Hunter Lowery and Elsa Ramon.
Speaker A:And this is what the hell.
Speaker A:Smart, fresh, and uplifting.
Speaker A:We've got the stories that make you want to say, what the hell?
Speaker A:In those 100 years, society has changed, and the role of our public libraries has changed along with it.
Speaker B:From being a hub for students studying, citizens checking out books for learning or recreation, the library has bloomed into a community center, a sanctuary, and a technological oasis.
Speaker C:Yeah, it really has kept up with the times and transformed.
Speaker C:We've invited two representatives at the LA City Library to tell us about that.
Speaker D:So.
Speaker C:So we want to welcome Senior Librarian of the Photo Collection, Christina Rice and Madeline Pena Feliz, Director of Engagement and Learning.
Speaker C:Hello, ladies.
Speaker C:Thanks for being here.
Speaker C:You know, first question.
Speaker C:Well, first, congratulations on 100 years.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker C:I guess we should all feel so lucky that we still have such a giant resource available to us.
Speaker C:But, you know, so much has changed, obviously, since the library was founded.
Speaker C:What do you think the most significant role of the library is today?
Speaker D:Well, you know, we are the Los Angeles Public Library, and Central Library is just, you know, one of our locations.
Speaker D:We have 73 locations throughout the entire city.
Speaker D:And we honestly try to be everything to everyone, you know, in our city.
Speaker D:And that certainly has evolved over the last decade or even the 150 years that we've been around.
Speaker D:So, yeah, yes, like originally it was very core information, which came in print form, and how we deliver information has evolved.
Speaker D:But I think with technology that has just advanced so much in the last 30 years since Central Library reopened, we see where that's playing a big role.
Speaker D:So we now have our Octavia Lab that offers all kinds of different technologies like 3D printing and laser cutting and podcast studios and embroidery machines.
Speaker D:So we're able to offer all of that to our public free of charge.
Speaker D:But then we also have a lot of different, you know, outreach and engaging initiatives that Madeline can talk a little bit about.
Speaker E:We have, for example, the New Americans program so we can help immigrants with their journey becoming new Americans.
Speaker E:We have the Career Line High School, which allow allows adults to earn their high school diploma and a career certificate for free.
Speaker E:We also have many programs and services for youth, for kids and parents, for teens, helping them get ready for college and get the balance right.
Speaker E:And we do have a library of things that people can take home and use in addition to books.
Speaker E:For example, we have Explore LA with Discover and Go, which is a program that lets people reserve free and discounted Passes to museums, cultural institutions, and even sports venues in la.
Speaker E:Using their library card, people can check out the California State park pass so they can, for free, access our state parks and beaches.
Speaker E:And we have STEM kits, we have citizen science kits that people can take home.
Speaker E:We have books and toy kits for families so they can have a refreshed collection of books and toys for their kids.
Speaker E:So what Christina said is that our commitment as the Los Angeles Public Library is to change and evolve along with the needs of our communities.
Speaker E:That goes to technology.
Speaker E:And with technology, we even check out hotspots and laptops that people can.
Speaker E:Can take out, borrow and take home.
Speaker E:And so that's our commitment to evolve and change, be flexible and adaptable to, responsive to the needs of our community, because that's our goal.
Speaker E:Connect people to everything library has to offer and also be that space where people can connect within each other.
Speaker B:Now, all of this is.
Speaker B:All of this is free with a library card, right?
Speaker B:I mean, no, there's no charge for this.
Speaker E:Free.
Speaker E:99.
Speaker B:All free.
Speaker C:Hal Hunter.
Speaker C:Did you guys know that there was 3D printing and podcast studios?
Speaker C:Is this just at the central location or is it throughout the public libraries or certain ones?
Speaker D:So it is primarily at Central Library.
Speaker D:We have our Octavia Lab.
Speaker D:And then at our Pio Pico branch, we do have a smaller lab that offers some of those services.
Speaker D:But, yeah, primarily it's most accessible at Central Library.
Speaker B:I don't know what that means.
Speaker B:What's an Octavia Lab?
Speaker D:Well, it is our media lab that has all of those different resources.
Speaker D:And we named it after Octavia Butler, the author, because she was such a big fan and supporter of Central Library and did research and wrote her books at Central Library.
Speaker D:So that was a way for us to honor her.
Speaker D:So that's why we call it our Octavia Lab.
Speaker B:I love.
Speaker A: remember back about, oh, the: Speaker B:You do not.
Speaker A:They were talking, the city council back then, I think it was a town council.
Speaker A:They were talking about the idea of a library system.
Speaker A:And I. Jk, jk, I'm joking.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But I do, I do remember as a kid, I. I grew up in Dallas, and I remember as a kid going to the library and listening to records.
Speaker A:Those were these things that were made of vinyl.
Speaker A:And I remember they had these little rooms that you would go into and listen to them with headsets.
Speaker A:And it was, you know, it was a delight for me to be able to go to the library to listen to a record.
Speaker A:And I thought that was very cool.
Speaker A:Now, if you look at what you're talking about today.
Speaker A:That is extraordinary.
Speaker A:The leaps and bounds have broken whatever barriers used to seemingly exist.
Speaker A:And I'm sort of wondering, you know, is there just no limitation?
Speaker A:As soon as something new comes along, the library starts going, how do we embrace that?
Speaker D:Yeah, I mean, I think that's definitely a strength of just the librarian profession in general.
Speaker D:I think, you know, we.
Speaker D: e since, I mean, at least the: Speaker D:And so I think because we have been declared obsolete so much, we're always so conscious about what our role is, to make sure we don't become obsolete.
Speaker D:So, yeah, I think librarians are really good at keeping up with what the newest technology is.
Speaker D:Again, like Madeline had mentioned what the needs of our patrons are or are the anticipated needs, and then figuring out how we're going to afford to get these things and then how we're going to be able to stay staff them.
Speaker D:But.
Speaker A:But, yeah, and one thing we didn't mention is we talked about the podcast, we talked about Octavia.
Speaker A:We already talked about these different things, but the reality is you even have an app where you can hear audiobooks as long as you've got a library card, 100%.
Speaker D:We have our Libby app, and people can do audiobooks.
Speaker D:They can check out, you know, ebooks.
Speaker D:I think we're the largest lender of ebooks in the country.
Speaker D:We have a lot of other apps people can use to watch movies and music videos.
Speaker D:And so, yes, so, you know, our job is to provide access to information.
Speaker D:And these days, information comes in a lot of different formats, so we're always staying on top of how we can provide that.
Speaker D:And I just wanted to go back to you talking about being in, like, the listening booths, and that's just, you know, an example of how we have evolved.
Speaker D: al department starting in the: Speaker D:We used to have piano practice rooms because, you know, having access to a piano or a keyboard could be such a barrier back then.
Speaker D: e volunteers, her dad, in the: Speaker D:On a piano.
Speaker D:So this is something that we've always been doing at Central Library, and the system for our entire existence Right.
Speaker C:And I'm sorry, Hunter, I want to see if my memory is correct on this.
Speaker C:Is there a mobile unit for LA Central Library?
Speaker C:Is there a bus or some kind of unit that goes out to communities Bookmobile?
Speaker E:You may see several of our vehicles out there.
Speaker E:We do have our shipping department.
Speaker E:They're the ones moving books from one location to another.
Speaker E:Let's say if you want to check out house book and it's not available at your local library, you can request it via catalog and then the shipping department will make sure that it gets to the location where it is checked out.
Speaker E:But we also have the Street Flea is the community outreach team.
Speaker E:They have three vehicles.
Speaker E:They are named based on their colors, ginger, lime and raspberry.
Speaker E:And they go out and do pop up libraries, you know, in community spaces such as festivals like the LA Times Festival of Books that you know that we were there, we had a heavy presence as a sponsor, but also smaller community events, senior centers, youth centers, after school programs and hacla, you know, public housing spaces.
Speaker E:So yes, we are.
Speaker E:In addition to.
Speaker E:There are 73 locations we were also out there serving the community.
Speaker B:And I want back to the Central Library.
Speaker B:You guys are having a, a big festival to celebrate your hundred years.
Speaker B:What's going to go on with that and when does that happen?
Speaker E:Well, our fifth we are having a birthday party for the Central Library.
Speaker E: elebrating the centennial all: Speaker E:You know, we have many activities.
Speaker E:Christina can help me list them all.
Speaker E:But July 11th, Central Library 7 11.
Speaker E:We will be having a wonderful birthday party.
Speaker E:We'll have cake, we'll have cupcakes.
Speaker E:We'll have music performances, authors tool book launches.
Speaker E:We'll have a community partners joining us outside in the gardens.
Speaker E:And it'll be a huge celebration.
Speaker E:It is our birthday party celebrating 100 years of the light of learning.
Speaker A:You know, I just want to throw something in there and not to be Donny Downer here, but you know, there's been news that's not been so good at the library.
Speaker A:You know, we went through a terrible fire that I remember pretty well at the Central Library.
Speaker A:And it was pretty devastating and I think even water damage from the hoses.
Speaker A:And I remember there was a company that came in and just dried out the books and I remember doing stories about the process of trying to save the books.
Speaker A:And this was pretty traumatic for the library.
Speaker A:But what was it, the 90s?
Speaker D: The fire was: Speaker D: So there were: Speaker D:Yeah, there were two fires.
Speaker D: ,: Speaker D:And then in September, we had a second fire that destroyed most of our music collection.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:And that effort to dry out books, I. I don't know that you were even born then, but, you know, it feels to me like that was.
Speaker A:That was the first time I ever saw such a repair effort to try to.
Speaker A:To salvage dampened and.
Speaker A:And wet books and dry them out and try to save them.
Speaker A:And I guess they.
Speaker A:If I remember correctly, and I. I may not be remembering correctly, but it seems like they saved a lot of books.
Speaker D:Yeah, we did.
Speaker D:Well, you know, as awful as the fire was, it really galvanized the community around us.
Speaker D:Volunteers.
Speaker D:In the days following the fire, hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers came to help staff get those books out of the building.
Speaker D:They had, like, makeshift slides and were just putting the books, you know, down the slides and piling them up.
Speaker D:And they ended up.
Speaker D:A lot of them went out to the Douglas facility in Huntington beach because they had these giant chambers, and that's where they were drying them out, were in this.
Speaker D:These giant chambers.
Speaker D:And so they were able to salvage a lot of the books, many, which you can still see on our shelves.
Speaker D:You can kind of tell which ones were the fire survivors.
Speaker D:But, yeah, it was just a massive effort.
Speaker D:We have photos of those giant drying chambers.
Speaker D:If you go to our website and go to our digitized photo.
Speaker D:I oversee our photo collection, so I need to promote the photos.
Speaker D:So we've recently digitized a lot of photos that show that drying process.
Speaker D:But I have to say, as awful as it was, and we lost around 400 and I think around 450,000 volumes of books.
Speaker D:If there is a silver lining to it all, it did really rally the community behind us, and I think it ensured that people would never take Central Library for granted.
Speaker D: ,: Speaker D:And so I think people still really appreciate us to this day.
Speaker D:And in a weird way, I think some of it has to do with the fact that we almost lost Central Library.
Speaker B:It does kind of make it more precious.
Speaker C:Yeah, I agree.
Speaker C:Hunter, you were going to say something here.
Speaker B:I just.
Speaker B:I am a consumer of all kinds of books.
Speaker B:I listen to audiobooks, I read ebooks, and I have a bunch of, you know, hard stuff in the back.
Speaker B:But when you go to a library, there's something so evocative about it.
Speaker B:Just opening up the books, the smell of the books, and the feel of the Books.
Speaker B:Do you find that people still appreciate the tactile real book experience even though there's so many other options these days,.
Speaker D:100% People still want physical media.
Speaker D:And that includes young people.
Speaker D:I have a 16 year old, she's almost 16, my daughter.
Speaker D:And it's a balance between the two.
Speaker D:Like there are certain things she'll read on her Kindle, but then she's constantly buying books even though I work at a library.
Speaker D:And I can't say no, I'm not going to argue with her buying books.
Speaker D:But she'll also, you know, she'll also text me, mom, go, go pick up this book.
Speaker D:Because, you know, because she has access to one of the biggest public libraries.
Speaker D:So, yeah, I think, you know, as wonderful as technology is, it's not an all or nothing.
Speaker D:And I think too often people are, you know, because we have ebooks now, why do we need print books anymore?
Speaker D:And that, that is absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker D:You're going back to vinyl.
Speaker D:Vinyl has made a comeback.
Speaker D:So I think the world is big enough for, for digital and analog.
Speaker D:And yes, people still, you know, come into the library, they're overwhelmed.
Speaker D:Central Library is amazing.
Speaker D:You know, we have such deep collections.
Speaker D: now, we started collecting in: Speaker D:So we have deep collections.
Speaker D:We have all of these specialized subject departments at Central Library and staff that know how to help you find whatever you're looking for.
Speaker D:And you know how many centuries of information were created before the Internet came around?
Speaker D:Not everything is online.
Speaker D:So come to Central Library and let us help you find what you're looking for.
Speaker A: remember all of that back in: Speaker A:So Hunter told me before we did this that was I going to waive my book.
Speaker A:So no, I'm going to do this.
Speaker E:You are.
Speaker C:This will add in the Shameless Plug graphics afterwards.
Speaker A:And post is that there's a nice tactic, actual thing about books.
Speaker A:And I'm, I'm going to donate some books to the library system because I feel like there are people that even though this is not very expensive, it's 15.99@Amazon.com and also 7.99 for the digital Shameless Plug.
Speaker A:But you know, the thing is just.
Speaker B:Give them a website.
Speaker A:Website is called howheiser.com you can find out all about the book.
Speaker C:You told him to.
Speaker A:But the bot.
Speaker A:The line is there are people that really in this economy can't afford a $16 book.
Speaker A:And I recognize that and I want to make sure that this book is available in the libraries for people to read for free.
Speaker A:And so we'll be talking about that after we're off this podcast.
Speaker A:But I think books are important.
Speaker A:I think they will always be important.
Speaker A:I think you can digitize and digitize and you can do whatever you want to do, but the basic book is still the basic book.
Speaker A:And there's nothing better to me than walking into a bookstore and smelling the aroma of the books.
Speaker A:In fact, if they had a book cologne, I would probably buy it.
Speaker C:That's.
Speaker C:Hey, that's an idea, right?
Speaker C:That's a scent library on the candle scented library.
Speaker C:But Madeline Christina, I'm going to call myself out on something here because, um, I had to learn.
Speaker C:But I remember a couple years ago my daughter saying to me that she was very interested in getting into the library sciences, I guess you would call it.
Speaker C:She was interested in being librarian.
Speaker C:She's like a repository of information.
Speaker C:She just got her associate's degree.
Speaker C:She just graduated.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:And in.
Speaker C:In English literature, just like mom.
Speaker C:But, you know, I, at that time, I kind of discouraged her and said, well, I'm not sure, maybe you should do some more research on the future of libraries and how things are going and maybe you have a different version in your head of what you think it is versus what it is now.
Speaker C:And I remember after reading more about it, I came back to her after a month or two and apologized and said, I'm really sorry that I kind of challenged you on that and discouraged you a little bit because I didn't realize how much the libraries, many of them, have kept up with, you know, technology and streaming and the needs of today, like podcast studios and that kind of thing.
Speaker C:So what would you say to people like my daughter who is still now considering this?
Speaker C:I deeply apologized and let her know that it was, you know, my ignorance and my fear and not hers, and that she should always go for something that she's passionate about.
Speaker C:But what do you tell people like my daughter who, you know, is.
Speaker C:Is looking to get into a career in library sciences?
Speaker E:For us as public librarians, it's about public service, right?
Speaker E:You're serving the community.
Speaker E:And it.
Speaker E:We've heard our library director say many times, it's not a nice to have service.
Speaker E:This is a vital service.
Speaker E:This is probably one of the few, if not the only public space.
Speaker E:You don't need to buy anything to use and access the space and the resources again.
Speaker E:We have people obtaining their high school diploma, career certificate.
Speaker E:We have people using the library to improve their skills.
Speaker E:We have people learn how to read and write and you are improving their skills.
Speaker E:And you may say, well, that's how.
Speaker E: How is that happening in: Speaker E:And yes, happens.
Speaker E:There are a lot.
Speaker E:There's a lot of need.
Speaker E:We have parents, you know, discovering the joy of reading and community in the library as well.
Speaker E:So public librarianship, I think it's a needed space.
Speaker E:I'm glad your daughter was showing interest in that.
Speaker E:And also being a librarian or information science professional, it's also more than the public library.
Speaker E:So there's academic libraries, there are special collections, and there are archivists, companies that manage large digital assets.
Speaker E:They need information professionals to organize information, to work with systems to retrieve that information and classify it.
Speaker E:So there's a wide range of jobs that are related to, for you having, like, master's in library information science or similar.
Speaker E:So I believe there are a lot of opportunities out there.
Speaker E:My daughter is in college now, and she's working at the library.
Speaker E:She's going into the science, but now she's helping with conservation at her university library.
Speaker E:And she.
Speaker E:She's discovered that she loves it.
Speaker E:So.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker E:So I think.
Speaker D:Great.
Speaker C:Oh, no, I love it.
Speaker C:I love to hear that.
Speaker C:I'm gonna have my daughter send in her.
Speaker C:Her application, by the way, to you, too.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I was mentioning before we started talking that my mother studied library sense serv.
Speaker A:Library sciences, rather, at Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas, and was a librarian at the El Centro College in downtown Dallas and really had a nice little career with library sciences.
Speaker A:So, you know, I'm glad to hear that there is still a love of that, and I'm glad to hear that, you know, your daughter Bella is interested in that.
Speaker A:I think that, you know, there's probably a lot of great opportunities in the library system and.
Speaker A:And hopefully many more as you continue to expand out into all the different things that come along.
Speaker A:I'm guessing at some point, you know, we're going to have holograms.
Speaker C:If it were up to you, everyone would have a hologram and your book.
Speaker A:The book is available at An Accidental Career and with.
Speaker A:If I get approved, it'll be at the library.
Speaker B:So I just want to circle back to the centennial thing because I heard that as part of the celebration, you guys opened 100-year-old time capsule, which must have been quite an eye opener.
Speaker B:Tell us a little bit about what was inside there and what enlightenment it brought about.
Speaker B:You know, what LA was like 100 years ago.
Speaker A:Besides the picture of me as a little boy.
Speaker D:Yeah, the time capsule.
Speaker D:Retrieving that was an absolute Odyssey.
Speaker D: ,: Speaker D:So the cornerstone, which is on Fifth street, which is right outside the end entrance, they actually built a cavity in it so that it was placed over the time capsule.
Speaker D:And time capsules at that time were incredibly common for new buildings.
Speaker D:But usually they were designed to be retrieved when the building was demolished.
Speaker D: en we actually demolished the: Speaker D:So we now determined that we're not going to demolish Central Library.
Speaker D:It was under threat of demolition in the 60s and 70s, but now we feel like it's here to stay.
Speaker D:So we felt that the centennial was a great time to do this.
Speaker D:But because it wasn't designed to be retrieved, there was no roadmap.
Speaker D:And so Todd LaRue, who's the director of special projects with our library foundation, I worked with him, he took the lead on that.
Speaker D:And it was months upon months upon months of just trying to figure out if we could do do it.
Speaker D:Finally, we decided we didn't want to go through the front of the building.
Speaker D:We're a historic building.
Speaker D:We didn't want to ruin our 100-year-old cornerstone.
Speaker D:So we thought.
Speaker D:We determined it was safe to go through the inside of the building.
Speaker D:But that happens to be the public men's restroom.
Speaker D:So I had to spend a lot of time in that restroom.
Speaker C:We're just getting a time capsule.
Speaker D:Yeah, that's all we're doing.
Speaker D:So, yeah, so we had to get all these approvals with other city departments.
Speaker D:And then we had to remove urinals and historic marble.
Speaker D:And so we were finally able to retrieve it because it was, you know, in this wall.
Speaker D:It was, you know, above ground.
Speaker D:The contents were pristine.
Speaker D:It was like, there, because, you know, the big thing that I think the time capsule showed is how many newspapers we used to have in Los Angeles.
Speaker D:We had so many daily newspapers.
Speaker D:There were copies of all of them, and it was like they had just been laid in there.
Speaker D:There was a lot of.
Speaker D:A lot of municipal reports from other city departments.
Speaker D:And it just shows, you know, just a very civic oriented look at the city.
Speaker D: ous locations because between: Speaker D:We kept having to lease spaces and find bigger and bigger spaces.
Speaker D:So there were photos of all of them.
Speaker D:One of them we didn't have.
Speaker D:I was very.
Speaker D:That was probably my most exciting thing was to have, like, One photo that we didn't have, photos of our Board of Library commissioners.
Speaker D:So, again, like, very, very municipal oriented.
Speaker D:The big, big surprise, though.
Speaker D:So we had a list in our Board of Library commissioner minutes of what they had placed, so we knew what to expect.
Speaker D: to objects from that previous: Speaker D: ed up and just put the entire: Speaker D: we were able to open up that: Speaker D: ice of life of Los Angeles in: Speaker D:And it turns out a local businessman had gone to President Garfield's funeral after he was assassinated and brought back some relics from the funeral and put those in the time capsule.
Speaker E:Wow.
Speaker D:And so we currently have.
Speaker D:Many of the objects are on display, display at Central Library on our third floor outside the literature and fiction department, along with the box.
Speaker D:I think the boxes themselves are impressive.
Speaker D:Both time capsule boxes are these beautiful copper boxes that they had had to solder shut.
Speaker D:And we do have plans to put some of the objects back in.
Speaker D:I think we'll keep some of them back for us.
Speaker D: Los Angeles public library in: Speaker D:And it's going to go back in the bathroom.
Speaker C:Maybe that's.
Speaker C:Hey, you know, that might be a good opportunity for engagement from the public to say, what do you think should go in the time capsule?
Speaker C:Yeah, maybe, you know, that we bring more awareness to the library.
Speaker C:No, no,.
Speaker E:Yeah, I think.
Speaker B:Quick question, no pressure, but you said there was a bunch of newspapers from a hundred years ago.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker B:Do you remember, like, any one big headline from when it went in 100 years ago?
Speaker D:Oh, gosh, I.
Speaker D:You know what?
Speaker D:I don't, I don't know if it was like a super newsworthy day, but we do have some of those newspapers on display.
Speaker B:We'll have to look.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, that's pretty cool.
Speaker A:You know, obviously media's change over the years and, you know, I guess you could be putting in some, some CDs or some thumb drives or some digital of, you know, Fox 11 News where I worked, or, you know, CBS where Elsa worked.
Speaker A:Or, you know, maybe you can put our show Fox Lewis in Depth that Hunter and I worked on together.
Speaker A:I mean, there are lots of opportunities here.
Speaker C:This particular podcast with you ladies in there.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah, sure.
Speaker D:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker D:We, we will definitely have to have Digital media represented in the time capsule because that's such a huge part of, of what we're living through right now and what, and what the library is providing to the public.
Speaker A:Well, it's remarkable if you think about it.
Speaker A:100 Years in the scheme of things is long time to us, but it's not really a long time in, in the sort of the universe.
Speaker A:And you know, to think that we went from a time when there was only newspapers to a time when newspapers are, are having a hard time just surviving and, and so many other new media have come in and, and taken over the landscape.
Speaker A:It is remarkable what's been done in a hundred years.
Speaker A:And so, you know, I remember when I got into television, you know, there it was so different than it is today that we could spend a couple hours talking about that.
Speaker A:But the bottom line is times change, things change.
Speaker A:And you know, I think the idea of refreshing a time capsule is a wonderful thing to do.
Speaker E:There is one thing I can guarantee you won't be put in that time capsule and it is not a book.
Speaker E:The world's largest pop up book which will be on display at the Central Library starting July 11th.
Speaker E:So that's something that we won't be able to fit in the time capsule, but we want everyone to for sure go see it in the library.
Speaker B:How big is it?
Speaker E:Have you been, have you been in the rotunda of the Central Library?
Speaker E:Rotunda, the second floor.
Speaker B:I have been there a long time ago.
Speaker E:It will take a lot of space from the rotunda and again it's a record breaking book.
Speaker E:It's by artist printmaker Daniel Gonzalez and it is being paper engineered by Matthew Reinhart.
Speaker E:So yeah,.
Speaker B:Hopefully by the time we get this on the air we'll be able to have a picture of it.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I guess, you know, we should, we should give people an opportunity to know how to reach you guys for, for more information, your website.
Speaker D:Yeah, you can go to lapl.org backslash central100 and that's listing everything that we're doing this year year not only at Central Library but at our 72 branches.
Speaker D:We are celebrating Central 100 across the entire city.
Speaker A:I think it's a wonderful opportunity.
Speaker A:You know, I, you know, I remember my hundredth anniversary and.
Speaker C:Sorry, it was special.
Speaker B:And where is your time capsule, Hal?
Speaker B:Is it that.
Speaker A:It's right by my bathroom.
Speaker C:Yeah, it's in the bath.
Speaker A:It's in your bathroom, right, exactly.
Speaker A:All right everybody, thanks so much.
Speaker A:Good to talk to you.
Speaker A:Happy anniversary.
Speaker C:Yes, thank you, thank you ladies.
Speaker A:And that's what the hell 2.0.
Speaker A:I'm Hal Eisner, along with Elsa Ramon and Hunter Lowery.
Speaker A:This podcast is produced by Hunter.
Speaker A:Jamie Knapp is our Technical Director Editor and he handles all of the post production.
Speaker A:Our original three theme music is composed by Stuart Pearson.
Speaker A:Earlier versions of the podcast were produced at the studios of Fox 11 in Los Angeles and are available through the link in our Show Notes.
Speaker A:This version of the podcast is available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Speaker A:And what the Hell 2.0 is produced in Los Angeles, California.
