$10-Million Drive to Replace Library Volumes Begun

A campaign to raise at least $10 million to replace the books, magazines and valuable documents destroyed in the April 29 arson fire that ravaged the historic Los Angeles Central Library was announced Thursday by Mayor Tom Bradley and other officials.

Nearly $3.2 million from private donations have already been raised, Bradley told a news conference in the library’s History Room, which escaped structural damage during the blaze. But the smell of stale smoke in the air was an unmistakable reminder of the destruction elsewhere.

“We don’t expect to fall short,” Bradley said. “I know this community can raise $10 million.”

The mayor said he and Lodwrick M. Cook, chairman and chief executive officer of Atlantic Richfield Co., will co-chair a committee for the campaign. Cook handed Bradley a $500,000 check for the effort.

Arco officials said about 25,000 square feet of office space in the Arco tower--across Figueroa Street from the Central Library and worth another $500,000 in rent--has been donated for use by the library’s administrative staff.

“We’re neighbors, and I feel very strongly about education,” Cook said. “We simply have to have the library restored.”

The Arco gift came on the heels of last week’s announcement that the J. Paul Getty Trust had donated $2 million. Author Sidney Sheldon, who wrote “Bloodline” and “If Tomorrow Comes,” gave a $25,000 check Thursday. Also, the California Community Foundation of Los Angeles County said it will donate up to $100,000 in matching grant money for every $5 sent by anyone under age 18.

Another $45,000 in unsolicited donations, ranging in amounts from $1 to a $10,000 check from Theodor Seuss Geisel, reknowned author of the Dr. Seuss children’s books, have been received, city officials said.

Bradley said anyone wishing to help the campaign may send a tax-deductible donation to Library, P.O. Box 1986, Los Angeles, Calif. 90071.

Chief Librarian Wyman H. Jones said nearly 190,000 books, 6,200 complete files of magazines and documents--valued at $14 million--were lost in the fire. In addition to the $10-million drive, another $4 million worth of books and other materials will be solicited at a later time, he said.

A reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the blaze has reached $30,000.

City officials also used Thursday’s news conference to announce the June 12 dedication of the new Frances Howard Goldwyn Regional Library in Hollywood. The facility will replace the one destroyed by an arson fire in April, 1982. The library was rebuilt at a cost of more than $6 million, $3.24 million of which was donated by the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation, Jones said.