Doheny Memorial Library, the USC landmark: LA Times Reference Room📚 & Cinematic Arts

Hello my friends, this is Kathy, the library hunter. Did you go to libraries a lot when you were a student? Or if you're a student right now, do you study late in libraries for final exams? Schools, especially universities, usually have impressively beautiful libraries that seem mysterious and intriguing to the public. If you live in Southern California, you've probably heard of this well-known university, USC. Today we are visiting the splendid Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library, a cherished jewel in the heart of the University of Southern California's campus. This is a journey through history, culture, and knowledge as we explore this remarkable institution that has left an indelible mark on generations of USC Trojans. As visitors, we need to present a valid photo ID before we are allowed to enter the building. When Doheny Library first opened its doors, it was at the forefront of library technology. This architectural masterpiece, constructed in a mere 12 months, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and creativity. Looks like the exhibition space is during a transition phase. Nothing on display on the day of our visit. There is also a treasure room to the right of the entrance pavilion, which is an important exhibition space for the USC libraries. Unfortunately, the treasure room is closed too. But fear not, there's still much to discover within these hallowed halls. As we continue our exploration, we encounter the Los Angeles Times reference room, a place where knowledge is revered. It is home to a reference desk and hosts the prestigious USC Libraries Scripter Gala. The room's opulence is impossible to ignore with its gold and blue coffered ceiling, a masterpiece by Italian artist Giovanni Smiraldi, who also worked on the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel. The room's chandeliers are made of bronze and pewter. The furniture and recessed bookshelves are of walnut, and the tall side windows are of English antique leaded glass. Above an exquisitely detailed carved wood entrance, a frieze running along the base of the ceiling celebrates distinguished contributors to the history of the printed book. Repeated around the perimeter of the room are 14 early printer's marks. The Los Angeles Times reference room was designed to accommodate 400 students, some 6,000 books. It remains the busiest study room in the building. Look at these amazingly preserved old school archives. My favorite part of the walking tours is casually strolling by the bookshelves and daydreaming about all the stories hiding in those pages. Exiting the splendid reference room, now we are entering the faculty hall. There are large screen and small screen video displays as well as static exhibits. A rotating sampling of faculty books from the archives is showcased. This could be a good place for prospective students, faculty recruits, and other visitors to get a sense of the wide range of USC academic excellence past and present. Now let's head to the other side of the entrance lobby, forward to this former card catalog room, which is now home to the USC Library's Top Drawer Society. Comfortable furniture makes it a popular study space. The former card catalog room is called the Hall of Honor today. Donors who have contributed $10,000 or more to the USC Libraries may have their names engraved here. The former card catalog is kept empty for display only, with a few card catalogs still in use, hence remaining locked. Our adventure now takes us to the East Asian Library, a testament to USC's long-standing commitment to intellectual exchange with East Asia. This library houses a treasure trove of materials that have been collected for over 40 years. It stands as a symbol of USC's dedication to fostering global perspectives. Are you ready to experience the darkest and most mysterious room in the University of Southern California? Ascending to the second floor, we enter the Intellectual Commons, designed for study and academic discussion. Despite its dimly lit ambiance with antique books, flickering sconces, and mysterious, haunting urban tales, it is becoming a popular hidden study spot among the USC students. This room is also home to the reference collection of the Bergman Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, which consists of core reference sources in the humanities and social sciences for the study of the Luso-Hispanic world. Now, feel free to embrace yourselves, because we have arrived at the Cinematic Arts Library. As you might know, USC Cinematic Arts is a premier institution nurturing future filmmakers with extensive archives, rare artifacts, and a commitment to preserving the art of cinema. This library is a cinephile's dream, boasting a vast collection of books, archives from major Hollywood studios, and memorabilia from actors and directors. It is not just a repository of film history, but a guardian of cinematic heritage. The Cinema Television Library holds some 20,000 books, the archives of five major Hollywood studios, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In addition to an extensive book collection, the library also holds many archives. Focusing on the history of the film industry, containing many rarely seen photographs, as well as scripts, scores, and other artifacts. I was hoping to find some Warner Bros. archives materials, but it seems that it may only be viewed by appointment. The book, Cinema Year by Year, organized by year, starting with the birth of cinema, and progressing through each decade, highlighting key developments, iconic films, influential directors, and major industry milestones. Do you recognize any of these iconic movies? Found lots of interesting archives and records. This book stack space is a treasure trove of books, with a good amount about Hollywood, and its fascinating world of movies, stars, and the magic that happens both on and off the screen. Los Angeles and the Hollywood industry have a deeply intertwined relationship that spans over a century. As a district within LA, Hollywood is the epicenter of the American entertainment industry, primarily known for the production of movies and television shows. Here in this cozy nook of the university library, we can explore the stories, history, and glamour that make up the heart of the entertainment industry. Have you seen this kind of dense before? It is to help you handle these thick volumes. They created a tactile guide for readers to hold and open the book without damaging the spine or pages. As we proceed to the library exit, you might notice that marble, granite, and travertine are featured in much of the interior surfaces and decorative details. The designer, Estelle Doheny, took a keen interest in the artistic program, requesting that all the furnishings be made in America and that California companies especially be involved. 90 years after its construction, Doheny Library is still evolving, remaining an intellectual and cultural beacon on campus. Here we are seeing the USC Trojan statue, representing the University of Southern California. Trojans stand with a rich legacy of achievement and a commitment to leadership. So that concludes our journey through the Doheny Memorial Library at USC. Thank you for joining my walking tour and don't forget to subscribe to my channel so that we can continue our adventures of the world's wonderful libraries together. See you in the next library. Bye.