The Library Store

Pricey, but I love going in here. They have the most interesting little things. Most are book/​reading/​author (ie. Edgar Allen Poe, Jane Austin, ect) related but not everything. They even have a little rack of puppets, and a tiny area with kids stuff.
I love going in, looking at everything, but I really do think it’s too pricey.

This is a fun stationary /​book store. They have a nice selection of books and random gifts.

nice journals

YES!
the artful taste of the store cuator & LA themed products are awesome.
my go to place for gifts-​ranging from birthdays to baby baptism. the staff are thoughtful and they wrapped my gifts beautifully.

I LOVE the library store!
They have a lot of fun items here. They sell Out of Print t-​shirts here, «Reading is Sexy» stickers and buttons, great postcards and cards, and really cool gifts. They usually have a sale bin. I picked up a lot of holiday cards at 50% off recently.
The best part is that proceeds support the library! At least check it out when in the area.

Awesome store with all the best gift ideas. A little bit pricey, as these sorts of places always are — but it’s worth it for the convenience of having a nicely curated set of stuff that is easily accessible on a lunch break. Also, proceeds support the LAPL so no need to feel guilty! :) They often have sales on a selection of merchandise — great for picking up out-​of-​season holiday cards for next year.

This is a great place to pick up unique gifts and cards. Whoever is the buyer for this store is very talented and has an eye for quality merchandise.
The workers are always very polite and let you take your time browsing. It’s my go to place for beautiful cards.

A place, where you want to buy everything! The greatest collection of souvenirs for book lovers and postcards that differ.

I have a deep, lasting love for the downtown branch of the L.A. Public Library. I’ve been inside the branch several times in my adult life, and for large chunks of the past two years, I’ve worked right across the street. Yet until recently, I ignored the Library Store like I would any unobtrusive gift shop. I had no idea what a gem it was until I needed to buy a birthday card during a lunch break.
That lunch break took place right before the holidays, and my birthday card excursion took the whole half hour and cost about $ 150 to boot. I got my birthday card, but also a book of L.A. maps for my husband, a baby Moby Dick book for a friend’s new baby, a signed copy of MaddAddam for me. I picked up small gift items for a family gift exchange that we thought we’d have to go out of our way to buy later. I got a little set of Moby Dick toothpicks for the house. And honestly, I showed quite a bit of restraint. I wanted everything in the store.
The selection is heavily geared towards book lovers, with literary jewelry and book-​themed tote bags, notebooks, iPad cases, etc. There’s a sizable section for kids’ gifts, which is nice, but most of the store is designed for the spendthrift reader — perfect, really, since shopping here directly supports the L.A. Public Library. A couple walls are devoted to a neat selection of high quality greeting cards. The Library Store must be the best place to buy cards downtown, and I’ll default here for every card-​giving occasion. I see many lunchtime impulse purchases in my future.
I went back yesterday to check out the post-​holiday sale and picked up a couple fun notecards — Albert Einstein and James Joyce in paper doll form. All the holiday stuff and a random assortment of non-​holiday items were 50% off.
The staff is friendly and they do a splendid job wrapping presents. I’m not sure if this is a holiday-​only or year-​round service. My guess is I’ll find out soon enough.

Had to stop by and visit this place when I was at the LA Central Library, and I’m glad I did!
It’s a pretty small store but that doesn’t really matter since it’s packed with lots of neat books, knick knacks, cards, pens, bookmarks and other fun items. They had some stuff for easter since the holiday is coming up, and the little baby chick finger puppet was so cute! I found A Tale of Two Cities for only $ 5 so I couldn’t pass that one up. They have a nice cook book section and lots of reading accessories for those of you that are bookworms. I’ll definitely be back when I get a chance!
*Near the entrance they also have a cart for things that are on sale. 50% off? Heck yeah!

I LOVE the Library Store. There are such unique items you can purchase there. I love to buy my greeting cards and Xmas cards there.
If you have to shop for small children they have some really cool and often educational toys and books.

Love it!!! Best one-​stop gift shop downtown… Incredible, clever, hilarious, on-​trend, beautiful hoo-​dads and wot-​nots and books packed into a tiny little nook. Proceeds benefit the public library!

Cutest little store in downtown! Great place to spend a lunch hour or wrap up a trip to the library. Enchanting collection of cards for every occasion and special gifts. Nice staff and ‘stuff’!

This little store is filled with so many trinkets. Everything in here is so interesting. Some things are pricey, but as I understand all sales from the store support the LA Public Library. The staff is also very friendly. I love this place!

OMG!!! How the heck do they fit all this cool stuff into such a tiny space?
Autographed books? Check.
Vintage silk Japanese scarf to buy for your mother-​in-​laws birthday? Check
Unique, beautiful, eco-​friendly greeting cards? Check
An AWESOME selection of kids toys and gifts, even for a baby shower? Check (the kids section is easy to miss as it is way back in the corner, be sure not to miss it).
Stationary galore? Check
Ties for your grandpa? Check
Quality candles for yourself? Check
A necklace for your sister’s birthday? Check
And MUCH MUCH more.
This is the BEST place to grab a gift in DTLA. Hands down. They have something for everyone!
And the do a lovely gift wrap for free!
The best part is that all proceeds go to our Public Library!
I LOVE you Library Store!!!

I’ve been told many times that I look like a sexy librarian.
Well this is my sexy little store.
The amount of interesting, quirky and unique treats you will find in this place will make you drool with desire and cause your wallet to throw it’s proverbial panties at the cashier… who happens to be a nifty little gal who’s sweet and also happens to look like a sexy librarian.
Now I know librarians are supposed to be quiet, but this place makes me want to yell to everyone «COME HERE! THERE IS SOME COOL SHIT TO BUY!»

THIS IS THE COOLEST GIFT SHOP I HAVE BEEN TO IN MY ENTIRE LIFEEEEEE.
Not kidding. It’s small so every corner is CRAMMED with neat little trinkets, small books, plant growing kits, book lights, book marks, tote bags, literary t-​shirts, guide books, moleskins, bottle openers, key chains, funky pencils and pens, buttons, gem stones, finger puppets, lotions, candles, jewelry. This kind of sounds like a description of every gift shop there ever was but this one is set apart because everything is slightly smarter, cooler, more unique than the average trinket.
I found two unique gifts here that I already regret not buying: a rubber duck tea infuser– looks like a rubber duck is floating in your drink! and a make-​your-​own-​music-​box thing. You can write your own music box melody. I have never seen or heard of either thing before but this shop is LOADED with totally unique stuff like this.
It’s pricy but the complete uniqueness of (almost) everything in there makes it worth it, IMHO. I spent like 30 minutes just LOOKING at everything. It’s like a spencers but replace the vulgarity with hip/​sophisticated/​nerdy literary types and you get this gift shop. LOVE!

Best place downtown to buy super cute and arty gifts and cards! Brain– shaped ice cube trays! Black cat post-it’s! Cookbooks, jewelry and more!

The Los Angeles Central Public Library has two conveniences I’ve never seen at a library before – a food court featuring a Panda Express and a TCBY and this gift shop (The Library Store). The Library Store is small but nice. The Library Store feels a lot like a museum gift shop; therefore, some nice-​looking gifts but probably stuff you do not need. Unlike museum gift shops though, what I saw there was not outrageously overpriced (but still kinda pricey).
I picked up a skunk hand puppet there (pretty good quality and a decent price). Other animal hand puppets were also available.
Service was friendly and good.
There was a sign outside indicating that all revenue from The Library Store benefits the Los Angeles Public Library. The Library Store is located near the checkout and while it might not be the greatest store, it may be a decent time-​killer if you are with someone who has to wait in line to check out books (which can get long as this is a very busy/​popular library). By the way, if you haven’t been to this library before, it is quite nice (great collection, great architecture and front garden, great design and flow).
There is a parking structure attached to the library. I am not sure how the parking validation works here. Getting validation here would be important because parking is expensive. Other parking lots are nearby and they can go as low as $ 5 per day (depending on when you arrive and/​or how far you are willing to walk).

If you need a unique gift for someone of any age (baby to adult) The Library Store is a great source. It’s located in the lobby of Central Library. I’ve bought great signed books, jewelry, baby toys and cards. Convenient and, best of all, all sales support the Los Angeles Public Library.