Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
What Your LA Library Card Gets You (Besides Books): VR, Laser Cutters, 26K Films, WaPo Online, Free Museums, So Much More
Patrons use computers in the Teen'Scape area at the Los Angeles Public Library. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)
()
It's cool enough that Los Angeles Public Library cards recently got a limited edition design by local artist Gajin Fujita. But once you get that arty little card in your sweaty little palm - or any LAPL card, for that matter - it opens up access to a whole host of art, activities, technology and more, in addition to all the glorious books.
A robust list of the card's perks, from newspaper subscriptions to recording labs to cultural institutions (there's a reason it's called the #BestCardInLA - even Keanu has one, bro), lives on the library's website.
Here are a few extra-awesome highlights:
Free or discounted admission to L.A. cultural institutions like The Broad, the Autry Museum of the American West, Kidspace Children's Museum and more. Most put a limit on how many free passes you can get per month or per year. In most cases, you must make a reservation and print out a pass to show when you arrive. Find a full list of participating places at the library's Discover & Go site.
Support for LAist comes from
The New York Times and The Washington Post: Free access to both newspapers' digital sites. The access only lasts 24 hours, but you can log back on immediately. If the logging in and out doesn't bother you, this is a serious money-saver.
Octavia Lab, a new space at the Central Library in DTLA that is full of all kinds of technology and gadgets to help users create. The lab is 3,000 square feet, and includes a 3D printing machine, virtual reality gear, a laser cutter, Final Cut Pro, Logic and much more.
Language learning apps, including the popular Mango. By entering your library card number and PIN, you can log in and start learning at no charge.
DIY digitation for your old photos, videos, recordings and more. Part of the Octavia Lab, The Memory Lab lets you digitize all the pics of your parents in the old days, yourself in the old days, the videos your great-uncle took on his VHS and more. You'll need to attend an hour-and-a-half orientation before you can reserve a spot in the lab.
Independent, documentary, classic and international films streamed free through Kanopy. The library offers access to 26,000 such movies, including titles like Lady Bird, Eighth Grade, Moonlight, The Florida Project and 25,996 more.
So, if you don't already have a library card, we've just given you six - or, tens of thousands - reasons to get one. What are you waiting for?
Correction: A previous version of this story erroneously stated that the Octavia Lab offered Pro Tools. It offers Logic. LAist regrets the error.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist