North Facade, Los Angeles Public Library

This side faces 5th Street. The reliefs and figures are by Lee Lawrie. The following is a description from the "Hand Book of the Central Building Los Angeles Public Library", published in 1927, p. 19: "On the north front the principal decoration is the arms of Los Angeles, but on either side of the entrance are here again two images, in this instance symbolizing the great literary powers of the mind, Reason and Imagination, or the Philosopher and the Poet. High above, on the cornice is an inscription taken from Richard de Bury's aspostrophe to books in the Philobiblion...'Books alone are liberal and free; they give to all who ask; they emancipate all who serve them faithfully.'"

To: Public Art, Los Angeles Public Library

12/1997