For mid-century library lovers, the Altadena Public Library has much to offer:

An architect with an easy to remember, catchy name
A building design integrated with the landscape
Distinct metal artwork
Abundant Ackerman wooden Panel Carve
Nicely curated used bookstore where relatively new books can be had for a dollar or two

Most of the architecture description is from the Los Angeles Conservancy website: The low-lying Altadena Public Library was designed by Altadena architect Boyd Georgi in a Mid-Century Modern style that worked in close harmony with the landscape design by Eriksson Peters and Thoms.

Completed in 1967, the building is composed of horizontal planes of concrete and long, open stretches of dark glass walls, punctuated by gray concrete blocks and simple vertical supports.

The interior is planned around a central reading area with a sunken floor, vaulted skylight, and more plants, further blurring the separation between indoors and outdoors. Alas, the mature palm tree that used to be there was removed around 2016 or 2017 according to library staff.

To complete the union of garden and structure, clerestory windows run the full perimeter of the building, pulling sunshine indoors and lending the central reading area the softly dappled light of a forest at midday.

A wooden bridge with metal railings lined with cheerful globe lights leads to the main entrance, which displays a dramatic metal wall sculpture by local artist David Green.

Another metal sculpture adorns the wall adjacent to the parking lot entrance.

Side entry sculpture also by David Green

I was quite taken by the Ackerman Modern wood carve panels (Ucello Panelcarve) located in several areas of the library, including the checkout desk and Friends of the Library browsing area.