"We're kind of a hybrid between a public library and a research library," says Joyce Cooper, a principal librarian who manages outreach and programming for the Central Library. The 90-year-old institution is also part-museum and part-event space, a home for unusual collections and a host for regular cultural performances and educational talks. More importantly, though, it's the city's phoenix. Like the mythical creature, the Central Library emerged full of life from the aftermath of a devastating fire.

In 1986, the Central Library was hit by two separate fires - both arson cases - set apart by a handful of months. The amount of damage was massive, but locals did their part to help resurrect the venerable space. "The fire was a horrible thing, but, at the same time, it ended up being one of the saving graces for us," says Cooper. "People really rallied around the library and people realized how much they loved it and wanted to save it."

Today, the Central Library merges old and new L.A. with the original building flowing into the Tom Bradley Wing, which opened in 1993 and is named after the city's mayor during this reconstruction period.