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| (courtesy Cal Fire) | |
Bookstores near the wildfires in Los Angeles have responded in a variety of ways to the devastation, becoming centers for the community to gather, help, and comfort one another, and to begin to try to deal with the terrible events of the past week.
Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena has done amazing work in the days since the Eaton fire destroyed much of nearby Altadena. The store has become an impromptu center for distribution of all kinds of items needed by people affected by the wildfires, especially those who lost their homes. Donated and frequently requested items have included toiletries, first aid kits, towels, water, blankets, pillow cases, non-perishable food, and more. The store, which opened two years ago and emphasizes books by BIPOC authors, is also delivering items to the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable.
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Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena reopened on Friday, saying in part, "Our hearts go out to the entire community of Pasadena, Altadena, and everyone impacted by the fires. Just like you, we are trying to make sense of the tremendous loss and uncertainty of the last few days and the near future.
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| At Vroman's, Steve Ross (aka storyteller Mr. Steve) bringing children's books to the evacuation center at the Pasadena Convention Center. | |
"We continue to take this situation one day at a time with an awareness of the role books and bookstores play in the community we serve. Both can offer a place of refuge and engagement that people may need or want in a time of difficulty... Come visit if you need a change of scenery, a place to meet friends, to browse or see a friendly face."
Vroman's added that customers, who have been able to donate to their favorite local nonprofits through Vroman's Gives Back, now have the option also to support the Pasadena Community Foundation's Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund.
"We love you Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, San Marino, South Pas, Monrovia, Arcadia, La Cañada-Flintridge, and surrounds. #strongertogether"
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Book Soup, West Hollywood, owned by Vroman's, offered similar sentiments, and customers can round up purchases to donate to Direct Relief. The store added, "We believe Los Angeles is the greatest city in the world. We love you. We love you. We love you."
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On Saturday, Flintridge Bookstore, La Cañada Flintridge, posted on X: "Our dear friends, we are happy to announce that we will be open today and moving forward!! If you are craving a bit of normalcy during these unprecedented times or a book to escape in to, please stop by!"
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The Last Bookstore in Studio City posted on Instagram Friday: "BYOC (bring your own charger + coffee) and stay awhile. We'll charge your device and provide free Wi-Fi for anyone needing a place to read, regroup, and recharge. While our staff and resources are limited, our hearts and doors are wide open. (well, actually, they're closed because of the smoke, but you get the idea).... To better serve you all, we're seeking strategic partners and sponsors who share our passion for impact and can help us expand our reach in the community. DM us to start the conversation."
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The Pacific Palisades branch of the Los Angeles Public Library was destroyed by the fire. Palisades Branch senior librarian Mary Hopf posted this note: "Thank you to everyone for your kind words, concern, and support. Our staff is family and we are sad for our community and our library. We have the most beautiful memories of the Palisades Library and all the people who have made it wonderful. Please stay safe!"
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Among the many things destroyed by the wildfires was the personal library of Gary Indiana, the novelist, cultural critic, playwright, and artist who died last fall. The library had been moved from Indiana's home in New York City to a house in Altadena, where it was going to be the center of an artists' residence. It arrived on Tuesday, the day before the fire destroyed much of Altadena--and the house where the library had been delivered.
In an essay in the London Review of Books about his own experiences when the wildfire destroyed much of Altadena, Colm Tóibín wrote, "On Tuesday, 7 January Gary Indiana's personal library arrived in LA from New York. Gary died in his apartment in the East Village in New York on 23 October. His books had been three-deep on his shelves. It was decided to take his library to Altadena, to a place that was to be used as a residence for artists. It would be the core library for the house. The books were put into boxes, carried down six floors to the street in the East Village and then taken across America....
"On Tuesday when Gary Indiana's library came to Los Angeles, it rested for a while in the appointed house in Altadena. But it was the wrong day. If they--the signed editions, the rare art books, the weird books, the books Gary treasured--had come a day later, there would have been no address to deliver them to, so they would have been saved. But on that Tuesday, unfortunately, there still was an address."