Library Foundation of Los Angeles

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles is proud to announce that Melissa Kham has been appointed Chief Development Officer (CDO) of the LFLA. She joins LFLA after serving as vice president of strategic relations at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) since 2021. An accomplished development professional, Kham has held senior positions across an array of non-profit organizations throughout Los Angeles for nearly twenty years, including at Alzheimer's Los Angeles, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), and Youth Speak Collective. As Chief Development Officer, Kham will be responsible for the management and strategy to secure philanthropic support for the LFLA.   Kham began her career with SoCal Grantmakers, a membership organization that represents regional philanthropy. She serves on the board of the Community Foundation of the Valleys: Give Back, Give Local in the San Fernando & Santa Clarita, sits on the Visionary Women planning committee for Alzheimer's Los Angeles, and is an active Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global) member. She received a master’s degree in public administration in Nonprofit Management from California State University, Northridge, and a B.A. in Spanish and Chicana/o Studies from Loyola Marymount University.     Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/eTgNRJRb

Join us and library lovers nationwide in celebrating National Library Giving Day today! From early literacy programs to Career Online High School, the Los Angeles Public Library is a place that serves, supports, and welcomes patrons from all walks of life. Show your support by helping us sustain the transformative work of the LAPL! Interested in sharing a library story with us? We'd love to hear from you! Leave a note of gratitude about a Librarian or Library experience you’ve had! Donate: https://lnkd.in/g-ku_saM Share your Library story: https://lnkd.in/gCspiXGq

Curious about AI and how to make sense of it? ALOUD at the Library Foundation of Los Angeles is pleased to launch this week a new series of programs, ALOUD on IDEAS. We are always impressed with the level of curiosity and participation of our audiences and members, not just around new books—though we love that too!—but around a wide range of topics. We believe libraries, where we can all come together to learn and engage without barriers or judgment, are the ideal place to present free programs on ideas or themes in the zeitgeist that spur interest, attention, excitement, joy, and sometimes fear, concern, or even bewilderment. Join us on Thursday, March 28 at 7 pm, as we kick off a three-part series, Navigating the AI Maze: Investigating Artificial Intelligence in Our Lives, with Mind and Machine: Understanding AI's Impact on Youth Mental Health. You can register for free here: lfla.org/AI-Youth Upcoming programs will cover AI in the visual and performing arts and in public service technologies.

From our President and CEO Stacy Lieberman, “I’ve been on a memoir kick, having recently finished two memoirs featured in our ALOUD series last year: Dwell Time: A Memoir of Art, Exile, and Repair by Rosa Lowinger and Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe by Aomawa Shields. I highly recommend both, and you can watch or listen to Rosa Lowinger in conversation with Carolina Miranda from the LA Times on the LFLA Media Archive. I’m now reading Necessary Trouble: Growing up at Midcentury by Drew Gilpin Faust, who was the first female president of Harvard University. Her memoir is also a compelling social history of mid-twentieth century America—from Civil Rights to Women's Rights, from the Cold War to Vietnam, and I’m listening to James McBride’s new novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store on my Libby app, thanks to the LAPL. It’s a great read! Join us lfla.org/stayhome.” #stayhomeandread #stayhome #library #books #read

Many thanks to our fearless leader, Stacy Lieberman, who joined City Librarian John Szabo at The Aspen Institute for a critical conversation on the importance of free speech as book bans flare up across the nation.

Interested in learning more about the state of the public library in 2024? Join Los Angeles City Librarian John Szabo and President and CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles Stacy Lieberman as they kick off the year next Tuesday, January 23, with “Libraries as Cornerstones of Democracy,” a Fireside Chat, facilitated by LAist's Austin Cross. In this election year, amid the rise in banned books and spread of misinformation, they will talk about the role of libraries as hubs for intellectual freedom, digital literacy, civic empowerment, and community engagement. RSVP now: https://lnkd.in/gj7KwKnp

Thanks for having a Cybernaut and others available to help those like myself. I’ve learned so much from them.” - LAPL patron feedback about Cybernauts Today is the last day to double your impact! When you give to the LFLA, your gift impacts all 73 LAPL libraries. From Cybernaut computer aides to adult literacy tutoring, you’ll provide essential support to programs that improve the futures of Angelenos of all ages. LFLA.org/Give 

Libraries are filled with more than books: they’re also staffed by stellar librarians who make possible the incredible programs and services offered to all LAPL patrons. Earlier this year, one superstar Children’s Librarian Joanna Fabicon helped organize a Dodgers Storytime event, and even got to show off her ukulele skills ahead of the program. Invest in Librarians! Visit LFLA.org/Give to learn more. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library.

When you give to the Library Foundation, you nourish the creative and artistic life of Los Angeles. Our friend, L.A.-based Salvadoran poet and storyteller Yesika Salgado, has spoken very passionately about how the LAPL greatly inspired her. Help nurture the imaginations of Angelenos by donating this giving season. LFLA.org/Give. 

Not all gifts come from under the tree! Did you know there are an abundance of fabulous, fun, and free "gifts" and unexpected family-friendly resources that you can check out everyday from the Los Angeles Public Library? Listen to our President and CEO Stacy Lieberman tell you about just a few of the cool things you can check out from the LAPL. This is why there is so much value in supporting the Library this giving season. Give today at LFLA.org/Give.