Los Angeles Public Library Unveils the World’s Largest Pop-Up Book

The Richard J. Riordan Central Library in Los Angeles has hit a major milestone in its centennial year. To celebrate, the institution unveiled a massive installation titled Luceros y Penumbres. This creation holds the title for the world's largest pop-up book, taking over the library's historic rotunda.

Artist and printmaker Daniel González designed the piece as an homage to the role of libraries in public life. The project required the technical expertise of paper engineer Matthew Reinhart to scale up the mechanics of a standard pop-up book. When fully open, the installation measures 31 by 20 feet and stands 11 feet tall. It weighs nearly a ton, yet uses traditional materials like paper, fabric, and adhesive.

The content of the book connects directly to its location. One spread features a sprawling tree silhouette against the Los Angeles skyline, highlighting the diverse cultures and ecology of the city. Another section presents the library facade and the bilingual message, Each person is a library. These visuals sit beneath the 1933 murals by Dean Cornwell, tying the new installation to the building's long history.

Visitors can view the installation through November 2026. The display includes items from the library's Toy Moveable Collection, which houses more than 2,000 historic pop-up books and objects. The project effectively demonstrates how physical media continues to serve as a beacon for learning and discovery in the digital age.