The Science, Technology & Patents Department

Located on Lower Level Two (LL2) of the Tom Bradley Wing: Department Map

Octavia Lab | Phone: 213-228-7150 | Email: octavialab@lapl.org

Department Staff

Ani Boyadjian, Department Manager | 213-228-7223
Megan Katz, Senior Librarian | 213-228-7202

Materials & Collections

The Science, Technology & Patents Department has an extremely diversified collection. You can find information on mathematics, computers, cooking, automobile repair, UFOs, restaurant management, construction, engineering, cosmetology, medicine, zoology, botany, agriculture, pets, chemistry, nutrition, psychiatry, hotel management, and consumer information.

The department is the source for consumer information and carries copies of major consumer magazines, including Consumer Reports. The department keeps various resources with new and used car and truck prices, as well as other related sources.

The Los Angeles Public Library is a United States Patent & Trademark Resource Center. The department carries British patents back to the 17th Century. For more information, go to the Intellectual Property Information Section.

The Central Library is a U.S. and State of California Depository. Documents relating to science and technology can be found here. Environmental impact reports for the Greater Los Angeles Area are also available through depository arrangements with local government agencies. An index to environmental impact reports is available.

Octavia Lab

The Octavia Lab is named after groundbreaking science fiction author, Octavia E. Butler. The do-it-yourself studio space is located on Lower Level 2 of the Central Library. Equipment reservations may be made in person during lab hours or over the phone at 213-228-7150.

BEST Friends

BEST Friends is the support group for the Business & Economics and Science, Technology & Patents Departments. For membership information, please visit the BEST Friends website or e-mail best.friends.lapl@gmail.com

Culinary Historians of Southern California

The Culinary Historians of Southern California (CHSC), founded in 1995, is a group of scholars, cooks, food writers, nutritionists, collectors, students, and others interested in the study of culinary history and gastronomy.

For membership information, please visit the Culinary Historians of Southern California

Research Guides

The Science, Technology & Patents Department has prepared these guides to help you in beginning research on popular topics:

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The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest most diverse population of any library in the United States.

Through its Central Library and 72 branches, the Los Angeles Public Library provides free and easy access to information, ideas, books and technology that enrich, educate and empower every individual in our city's diverse communities.

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