Join us for a day of panel discussions, workshops, and other activities celebrating the written word, self-expression, and DIY culture!
Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Central Library
Celebra con nosotros la palabra escrita, la autoexpresión y la cultura DIY con charlas, mesas de conversación, talleres y muchas otras actividades.
Sábado 22 de noviembre de 2025, de 11 a.m. a 4 p.m. en la Biblioteca Central
Print & Protest: Zines as Tools for Activism
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Learn about the history of zines as vehicles for protest and self-expression, and create your own zine to amplify your voice and advocate for change. Join librarian Ziba Pérez for this inspiring workshop on the powerful role of zines in social and political movements.
Unlock LAPL: A Research Workshop for Writers
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Want to get more information on a topic for the book you’re writing? We’ve got you covered! Our expert librarian researchers, Christa Deitrick and Kelly Wallace, will walk you through the abundant print and electronic resources, as well as the many tools that are available through the Los Angeles Public Library, to help you take your book to the next level.
El caso muy peculiar de editar y escribir desde la frontera, por Sidhata Ochoa
Time: 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Location: International Languages
En esta charla la editora y escritora Sidharta Ochoa narrará las particularidades de hacer y editar literatura desde la frontera, como zona límite, liminal. El público asistente conocerá estrategias de escritura/publicación como actos de resistencia fronteriza.
Unleashing Your Inner Poet: A Workshop on Creating Poetry
Time: 12 noon - 12:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
It’s time to channel your inner poet with award-winning poet, educator, and former Poet Laureate of Altadena Teresa Mei Chuc! Brush up on your creative writing and collaborate, connect, and engage with the community around you!
Writing Across Ages: Crafting Stories for Adults, YA, and Children
Time: 12 noon - 12:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Join us for a moderated discussion with authors writing for children, teens, and adults to learn about their different trajectories within the independent publishing space. Panelists include award-winning poet Jessica Abughattas; author and documentarian David Damian Figueroa; and audiobook engineer Antoine Bandele.
Historietas colaborativas, por Medar de la Cruz
Time: 12 noon - 12:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
El taller colaborativo de cómic, impartido en español, busca fortalecer la comunidad y abrir un espacio de diálogo en torno a la comunicación visual.
Visualizing Memory: A Memoir Zine Workshop
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Poets and zine makers Sofia Aguilar and Paula Macena created Los Angeles: the zine to honor and celebrate the communities affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. In this zine-making workshop, they’ll bring their experience, artistry, and expertise to help you make your own memoir zine.
A Children's Author's Journey: Navigating the Path from Independent to Big Publishing
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Award-winning children’s author Helena Ku Rhee shares her experiences on going from publishing independently to eventually being published with one of the big five publishers. Her books include The Paper Kingdom, Sora's Seashells, and Shoes Off, Please.
De escritor a autor: perspectivas de una autora galardonada, por Maritere Bellas
Time: 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
Pasos a seguir para convertirse en un autor de libros—Esta charla ofrecerá sugerencias y compartirá experiencias para alcanzar la meta de ser un autor publicado. Habrá oportunidad para preguntas y respuestas.
Drawing Stories: A Comic Strip Workshop
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Create your own comic strip with Steven Weissman, a cartoonist and illustrator for Fantagraphics Books. He is the author of over ten books and has been a faculty member at the Art Center College of Design since 2006.
The Past, Present and Future of Publishing: Perspectives from the Indie Scene
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
A moderated discussion between independent publishing veterans Terri Accomazzo from Angel City Press, Tobi Harper Petrie from Red Hen, and Karen Chan from Gloo Books. Angel City Press has engaged more than 100 Southern California authors and published more than 135 books. Gloo Books is an independent children's publishing company creating books for a more inclusive, just, and compassionate future. Red Hen publishes approximately 25 books of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction each year, with over 550 books released to date.
Equipaje invisible: lo que cargamos al migrar, por Ariadna Sánchez- Hernández
Time: 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
Un espacio creativo y seguro para explorar, a través de la poesía, las emociones, recuerdos y aprendizajes que llevamos con nosotros al migrar o atravesar cambios significativos en la vida. Esta actividad invita a la reflexión personal, la expresión artística y la conexión con la identidad como formas de sanación y entendimiento.
Zine Folding Demonstration With Nova Community Arts
Time: 2 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Octavia Lab
Zines are a DIY form of rapid publishing that is a great way to share your thoughts, poetry, drawings, comics, or more! In this class, you’ll learn how to fold and assemble several types of zines using various methods, including X-Fold, T-Cut, Snake, and Pamphlet Stitch zines. You will leave with instructions and templates to help you incorporate these techniques into your next zine projects! All supplies are provided. Nova Community Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art studio that offers arts education and access to materials and equipment in Los Angeles.
Registration is required to attend this program. To participate, please email rsvpoctavialab@lapl.org.
Imagination Station: A Young Storytellers Workshop
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Come discover your authentic voice and bring your story to life! Jess Doss from Young Storytellers, an arts non-profit that empowers authentic, essential new voices, will lead this dynamic storytelling workshop to help youth ages 8-18 find ways to elevate and share their unique voices.
You've Written Your Book, Now What?
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
If you’ve finished writing your book and you’re wondering what to do, we’ve got two experts to shed light on the world of indie publishing, sensitivity reading, editing, marketing, and publicity. Our panelists include Isabel Ngo, a freelance book editor, and Alyssia Gonzalez, the founder of Oso Literary PR, a boutique marketing and publicity agency specializing in fiction and creative nonfiction.
Del periodismo a la página: cómo crear y publicar tu libro, por Naibe Reynoso
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: International Languages
Periodista, autora y fundadora de Con Todo Press, comparte su experiencia en medios y edición independiente. Ofrecerá herramientas e inspiración para escritores que buscan contar sus historias y publicar con propósito.
More Information
Parking
- The Los Angeles Public Library does not own or operate public parking facilities in the vicinity of the Central Library. Limited reduced-rate parking is available at the parking garage located at 524 South Flower St., directly underneath Central Library.
- Parking validation for this parking garage is available at the Information Desk. Parking validation rates of $1, payable at the parking garage only between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Westlawn Garage 524 S. Flower St.
- Flat rate with library validation $1
Public Transportation
- Public transportation is highly encouraged. The Metro A (Blue), B (Red), and D (Purple) Lines have stops near Central Library. Most buses that come downtown stop near the Central Library. Check the Metro website for rates, routes, and schedules.
- Downtown residents are encouraged to take the DASH "B" route to Central Library. Service runs every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit ladottransit.com/dash for more info.
Frequently Asked Questions | Preguntas Frecuentes
How much is admission? | ¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada?
The event is free and open to all. All activities, author programs, and workshops are free.
El evento es gratis. Todas las actividades, horas de cuento, funciones, programas de autores, y talleres son gratis.
Do I need to register? | ¿Necesito registrarme?
No, but select in-person programs have limited capacity and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis for attendance.
No, pero algunos programas presenciales tienen una capacidad limitada y se llenarán por orden de llegada.
Where will the event take place? | ¿Dónde se llevará a cabo el evento?
Indie-Pendent Voices will take place in various areas of the Los Angeles Central Library, including the Taper Auditorium Lobby and Courtyards, International Languages department, Octavia Lab, Meeting Room A, and Meeting Room B.
El festival Indie-Pendent Voices se llevará a cabo en varias áreas de la Biblioteca Central, incluyendo el lobby y los patios del Auditorio Mark Taper, el Departamento de Idiomas Internacionales, el Laboratorio Octavia, el Salón de Reuniones A, y el Salón de Reuniones B.
Is there going to be food? | ¿Va a haber comida?
The festival will not be providing food, however there are many food options in Downtown Los Angeles around Central Library.
En el festival no habrá comida; sin embargo, hay muchas opciones de comida en el centro de Los Ángeles alrededor de la Biblioteca Central.
Do I need a library card? | ¿Necesito tener tarjeta de biblioteca?
A library card is not needed to attend the event. If you don’t already have a Los Angeles Public Library card, we encourage you to sign up for one at the Circulation Desk located on the first floor. Library cards are free to residents of California, and the Los Angeles Public Library no longer charges late fines!
Parking validation is available at the library's Information Desk (first floor). Patrons can obtain validation upon presenting a valid library card.
No es necesario tener tarjeta de la Biblioteca Pública de Los Ángeles para asistir al evento. Sin embargo, puedes obtener una en el mostrador de circulación ubicado en el primer piso. Las tarjetas de la biblioteca son gratis para las personas que viven dentro del estado de California.
Validación de estacionamiento estará disponible en el mostrador de información (ubicado en el primer piso), los usuarios pueden obtener validación de estacionamiento cuando presenten su tarjeta de biblioteca.
Will I be able to purchase books? | ¿Podré comprar libros?
Yes, The Library Store will be in the Taper Auditorium Lobby from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., selling select Indie Author and Zine titles. The books will also be available for sale in the Library Store, which is located on the first floor, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sí, The Library Store estará en el lobby del Auditorio Mark Taper de 10:00 a.m. a 1:30 p.m. con algunos de los títulos de los autores independientes y zines de venta. Los libros también estarán disponibles en The Library Store,ubicada en el primer piso de 1:30 p.m. a 5:00 p.m.
Is the festival ADA-compliant? | ¿El festival respeta las reglas del ADA?
Yes. Central Library is fully accessible throughout the building. Flower and Fifth Street entrances have ramps. For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.
Sí. La Biblioteca Central es accesible en su totalidad. Hay rampas de acceso ubicadas en las entradas de las calles Flower y Fifth. Para ajustes según el ADA, por favor llama al (213) 228-7430 por lo menos 72 horas antes del evento.
Will author signings be available? | ¿Estarán firmando libros los autores?
Yes, this year, author signings will be offered immediately following their sessions.
Sí, este año las firmas de autores se llevaron a cabo después de los programas.
Are you an author or community organization interested in participating in 2026?
Contact us below if you're an author or the representative of an organization interested in participating in next year's (2026) Indie-Pendent Voices celebration. Opportunities include hosting a program, workshop, or tabling.
¿Eres un autor independiente o representas a una organización comunitaria interesada en participar en 2026?
Completa el formulario de solicitud de participación. Las oportunidades para participar en este evento incluyen coordinar un programa, taller o una mesa de información.
Thank you to our community partners!
