This is the first edition of An Incomplete* Listing of Los Angeles Libraries, Reading Rooms, and Archives—a growing directory of freely accessible reading spaces in LA County.

Beyond the collections and knowledge they house, these paces provide essential services to LA County’s 10+ million residents. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the primary federal funding agency supporting libraries and museums across the country—is under active threat of elimination. this map is offered as a tool to stay engaged and continue advocating for libraries as one of the last truly accessible public spaces, and a vital part of our shared civic life.

Published by Inventory Press in collaboration with the Vera List Center for Art and Politics, this is the second map in a series initiated and conceptualized by the VLC, beginning with An Incomplete* Listing of NYC Libraries, Reading Rooms, and Archives.

Inventory Press (Los Angeles) publishes books on topics in art, architecture, design, and music, with an emphasis on subcultures, minor histories, and the sociopolitical aspects of material culture. Since its founding in 2014, Inventory Press has published over 100 titles, with a focus on presenting under-represented voices to a broad public.

The Vera List Center for Art and Politics (New York) is an artist-focused research center and public forum for art, culture, and politics. Established at The New School in 1992, the VLC is a nonprofit that catalyzes and supports politically engaged art, public scholarship, and research throughout the world.