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Eleanor Brodie Jones (1872-1929)

Eleanor Brodie Jones, librarian in charge of the Hollywood Public Library from 1908-1926, personified community engagement and outreach. Everywhere she went she extolled the virtues of the library and found creative ways to promote it. She presented the library as a civic and social center that welcomed newcomers. For example, in 1911 as the first of many movie studios opened in Hollywood, Mrs. Jones offered the services of the Hollywood Branch to conduct research on their behalf. As a result, movie studios saw the advantage of creating their own research departments and occasionally lured the Hollywood Library's employees to work for them. Because of her outreach to the community, actors and screenwriters also used the library for research, and even participated in storytimes. Another early outreach endeavor of Mrs. Jones had the Hollywood Library supply books to the famous Hotel Hollywood for guests to read. In addition to a selection of books available in the lobby, guests could request books from the branch or Central Library be delivered to the hotel for their enjoyment.

Mrs. Jones service went beyond what would be considered traditional library work. Whenever Mrs. Jones saw a need in the community, she strove to find a solution. One famous example was the creation of the Hollywood Studio Club. Mrs. Jones worried about a group of young women who met weekly at the library. These women, who hoped to enter the movie business, practiced their skills by reading plays aloud during these weekly meetings. Concerned about their living arrangements and well-being, Mrs. Jones rallied the support of the wives of movie industry notables, including Mrs. Jesse Lasky and Mrs. William C. DeMille, to help find a solution. The result was the Hollywood Studio Club, which from 1916-1975, was a chaperoned living space solely for women who worked in the movie business.

Likewise, Eleanor Brodie Jones championed artists, architects and musicians. For instance, she offered the library as a meeting and gallery space to the Hollywood Art Association. When a new library building was built in 1922, she commissioned architect Rudolph Schindler to design the library's art gallery. Well-known throughout the community, Mrs. Jones represented the library as a member of the Hollywood Bowl founding committee. She was also an active clubwoman who held many positions that aligned with her librarianship, including president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Drama League, member of the Hollywood Woman's Club (where she hosted a popular Literature Lunch that featured speakers on various literary topics), and as Chairman of Literature and Drama of the California Federation of Women's Clubs.

Reference:  Eleanor Brodie Jones: Hollywood Star Librarian, LAPL Blog (March 21, 2019), https://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/librarian-history-eleanor-brodie-jones