SOUTH-CENTRAL : Book Fair to Help Library Branches

An upcoming book fair at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, Book Fest for Los Angeles, is one of two nationwide efforts expected to raise more than $50,000 to help restore two South-Central library branches destroyed in the riots.

Led by actress-choreographer Debbie Allen and the J. Paul Getty Trust, more than 2,000 donors nationwide have contributed $700,000 to rebuild the Junipero Serra and John Muir library branches, both of which were in shopping centers that were burned down. The libraries had been temporarily located in the mini-malls while their permanent, historic buildings were undergoing earthquake-proofing.

A total of 35,000 books, magazines, videotapes and other items were destroyed in the riots, library officials said.

The Junipero Serra branch reopened in July in a smaller space in the same shopping center at 4301 S. Figueroa St. while the John Muir branch will temporarily operate out of a trailer at its permanent location, 1005 W. 64th St., until its mini-mall space is rebuilt.

Allen initiated the fund-raising when she handed a $10,000 check to city Librarian Elizabeth Martinez Smith within a week of the riots. The Getty Trust followed with a $350,000 matching grant.

The UCLA book fair is scheduled for Nov. 26 and 27. An AT&T-sponsored; fund-raiser in New York is also planned on Oct. 25.