The Book Nook

Accident or Arson? That’s the question behind the destructive fire that swept through Los Angeles’ central library in the spring of 1986.  Temperatures reached 2000 degrees, burned for over seven hours and either destroyed or damaged over a million books.  Thankfully there were no fatalities.  The ensuing investigation yielded no conclusive results and the mystery of what really happened caused a writer to look more closely at the event and the man suspected of deliberately starting the fire. The result is “The Library Book”, a non-fiction work by Susan Orlean.  As a child she was raised by parents who loved reading and she relished frequent trips to the library with her mother.  As a young adult she favored bookstores over libraries.  After relocating to L.A. in 2011 with her husband, she started taking their young son to the library to continue the family’s tradition.  Doing so helped her rediscover the joy she felt from these visits. By this time Orlean was a professional writer and she learned about the 1986 blaze while doing research at L. A.’s central library.  What she heard made her curious enough to investigate further and write a book.  Through research and interviews, she gathered enough information to convey a very plausible account of what happened. She discovered several coincidental factors that had both good and bad outcomes. Sprinklers may have helped but hadn’t been installed.  That’s because the American Library Association had informally advised against them as water was more damaging than fire.  Ironically, on the very day of the inferno,a meeting was held between fire department and library staff to discuss installing sprinklers. That was also the day workers were preparing to install fire-resistant doors to comply with new laws intended to slow the spread of fire.  Plans to do so had been in the works for five years but kept getting overlooked.  Today was the day, but unfortunately it was one day too late. What the building did have was fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and an ancient alarm system.  The latter gave off so many false alarms that they had completely lost their shock value.  When they went off that day, staff and patrons thought it was just another false alarm and calmly filed out of the building.  This final irony was probably crucial in preventing death or further injuries. The author takes us through that ill-fated day in a way that conveys a sense of being there.  She  and looked closely at the one.  Like the original investigators, she couldn’t reach a conclusive answer but gives us well-researched glimpses into arson investigation, the history of that library and related topics.  Her story is informative and interesting, including details such as describing how fire can be colorless when conditions are absolutely ideal.   Readers will learn much about the history of libraries and how they’ve changed from serving only a small, elite group to being a place which welcomes everyone.  Los Angeles’ earliest library was started in 1844 when a reading room was opened in a dance hall.  Over time the collection grew and many changes were implemented.  Personalities of the head librarians ranged from professional and dedicated to flamboyant and strange.  Many were innovative thinkers in dealing with their community’s changing needs. Orlean provides succinct and stimulating definitions of what a library is and eye-opening details of the roles modern libraries play in its community.  She also has interesting examples of how libraries have transformed from a repository for books to a knowledge center that now helps people in many ways.  She sees libraries as a portal rather than a place, giving us a look into the many functions they provide and how people are served. One section describes the many ways materials are transported into patron’s hands.  Bookmobiles conjure images of modern transportation but in some parts of the world, books are still carried by pack animals.  She also addresses the changing demographics of who uses libraries today, which may surprise you.  Also addressed is why libraries and books have historically been targeted for destruction. Perhaps you’re like the author in that you enjoy ambling among the shelves, finding what you seek but also looking at the item’s neighbors.  She feels labeling of the non-fiction shelves progress in a way that is logical but also mysterious. Susan Orlean has been a contributing writer to “The New Yorker” since 1987 and became a staff writer five years later.  She’s authored several books including “The Orchid Thief”.  One nice touch to this book is the image at the back and reading the book will help you figure out the connection between the names listed. Regardless of how you feel about libraries, this book could change your view of them, their contents and the staff.  It’s a nice homage to all of them and is packed with informative details and trivia.