June Jubilee Held At Los Angeles Central Library

The Los Angeles Public Library celebrated community, culture, and storytelling at the Fourth Annual June Jubilee on Saturday, June 13. This free, family-friendly event featured live entertainment, hands-on arts and crafts, workshops on health, genealogy, technology, and presentations from library staff and representatives of other community organizations.

The celebration unfolded at the Central Library, nestled at 630 W. Fifth St. in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. As the celebration began, attendees were greeted by an enchanting African-inspired Opening Ceremony. The air filled with anticipation as a water libation blessing was performed, a heartfelt tribute to honor ancestors and the community.

Poet Erika K. Jones, also welcomed guest with a powerful original poem dedicated to African Americans. The poem was created especially for the event.

“June Jubilee is more than just a one-day celebration; it serves as a reminder of the library’s ongoing role in connecting people to history, culture, and one another,” said City Librarian John F. Szabo. “We take pride in the Central Library and its 72 branches, which collectively house over 8 million items. We are also immensely proud to be stewards of Los Angeles history, as reflected in the wealth of information contained in these books. It is important to recognize that libraries offer much more than just books. They are places where communities gather, knowledge is shared, and the stories of our city are preserved for future generations—stories that help us understand who we are, where we come from, and the experiences that unite us.”

New this year, attendees participated in CommUnity Archives interviews, an opportunity to share personal stories, preserve family legacies, and record oral histories of life and experience in Los Angeles.

From preserving personal histories through the CommUnity Archives Project to enjoying dynamic performances, conversations, and hands-on activities, June Jubilee reflects the very best of public libraries bringing people together, uplifting voices, and creating space for every story to be celebrated.

Guest of June Jubilee were also treated to the glorious voices of the Faithful Central Choir. They opened up the ceremony outdoors and also ministered in music inside the Mark Taber Auditorium.

Popular author Shirley Neal did a book presentation on her great new piece of work entitled. Afro Centric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture. It was a very enlightening presentation and she also blessed everyone in the audience with a copy of her book.

The June Jubilee is organized by Changing Tones, one of the Library’s groups focused on racial equity and inclusion. Its purpose is to honor and share the contributions and culture of African Americans throughout the history of Los Angeles and the nation with all Angelenos.

About Los Angeles Public Library

A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service, the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, collection of more than eight million books, state-of-the-art technology accessible at lapl.org, and diverse programs provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for lifelong learning.