Reading, working, dating, and celebrity-watching at the Beverly Hills Public Library

November 25, 8:04 PMLA Hidden Gems ExaminerJonathan Leven

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the LA Hidden Gems Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

A view of the Beverly Hills Public Library's well-used reading room.

If you're anything like me, the last time you set foot in a public library was in the days of card catalogues and microfiche.  I'm telling you now, they have come a long way since then.

Back when it was 97 degrees for days on end (ie, in late October,) I decided to seek refuge from the heat at the Beverly Hills Public Library, one of the few free air-conditioned work environments around town.  Expecting the usual mess of books from the 1970's and people from the 1930's,  I was genuinely startled by what I found inside.

The BH Public Library (located at 444 N. Rexford Drive, in the same complex as the BH Police Station and City Hall) is a sprawling, multi-leveled, state-of-the-art jewel of art deco architecture and public funding.  With WiFi, countless A/C plugs, more than a dozen computers available for free usage, and a smattering of printers & xerox machines, the library is a veritable office hub.  Oh, and it also has books, comics, audiobooks, cd's,  and dvd's available for check-out....and a Kelly's Coffee & Fudge....and a dedicated kids' section....and a meeting room.  The list goes on and on.

Perhaps the greatest testament to the beauty and functionality of the library, however, is the people who use it.  Sure, it has the usual assortment of children and retirees, but it also has an impressive array of students, business professionals, volunteers, intellectuals, entrepreneurs and politicians.  

On more than one occasion, I've seen famous actors and actresses hunkered down in the reading room pictured above (no joke!)  This same room might also be home to some sort of covert dating scene, as there seems to be a lot of people glancing furtively across the lampshades at each other.  While I haven't gotten any phone numbers yet, I can tell you that the scenery is pretty impressive -- and I'm not talking about the soaring windows or wood paneling.

So whether you want to spot someone famous, find a date, rent a dvd, do some work, or even check out a book, the BH Public Library is a great source for one-stop shopping.