Partner Spotlight - Los Angeles Film School Library

by Elise Aiello on May 31, 2023

This month, our Partner Spotlight will focus on the Los Angeles Film School Library in Los Angeles, California. We spoke with Georgina Rodriguez, Director of Library Services at the LAFS Library, to tell us more about the library.

Tell us a little bit about the library

The Los Angeles Film School is a for-profit college located in Hollywood, California, offering comprehensive programs and resources for individuals passionate about the entertainment industry. Our college provides hands-on training and education in film production, animation, writing for film & television, music production, audio production, game production, graphic design, media communications, and entertainment business.

The Los Angeles Film School Library (aka LAFS Library) plays a vital role in supporting the learning resource system for the LAFS community’s educational and professional development by providing current and relevant books, media, and digital resources. Our collection includes books, films, screenplays, storyboards, magazines, games, music CDs, and electronic resources including digital books, scripts, online streaming videos, and more! You can browse the collection by visiting the LAFS Library’s Koha at librarycatalog.lafilm.edu. In addition, the LAFS Library offers spaces for study, printing services, webinars, reference help, audio & visual equipment, and computers with the editing software that the students get when they enroll in their program.

Tell us something unique/interesting about your library

The LAFS Library houses an impressive assortment of film & television screenplays, storyboards, production treatments, movies, games, and music & audio-related databases. The Library has over 6,000 screenplays and over 3,000 films & television series. In addition, we work with our sister departments, providing various media resources like film and audio equipment, tech gear, studio & stage bookings, and software that support the curriculum.

The Library team likes to inspire the LAFS community by making the space feel very inviting and creative for the community. We love decorating the Library space with different themes throughout the year, especially during Halloween time. We also conduct events and provide a maker station to encourage students to play games or create something like origami or coloring to distress. We promote having a safe space where students feel like they can talk to Library Staff and even network and collaborate with their peers while they are in the library. We love discussing all things related to film, music, and animation with our community.

How does being a part of the open source community help the LAFS Library?

We very much love and benefit from being a partner with the ByWater Solutions team! Not only is open-source software cost-effective, but it is also customizable so it can fit our needs. The great thing about being part of the open-source community is that we are able to network with experts who offer resources and support. Overall, being part of the ByWater Solutions team enhances our library's capabilities, encourages collaboration, and contributes to the improvements of our Koha."

Learn more about Los Angeles Film School Library here!