The Writers Guild Foundation Shavelson-Webb Library

7000 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048 (in the WGA building)

Open Tuesday to Friday 11am-6pm (Thursdays 11am-8pm) by appointment only.

Closed on major holidays.

We currently cannot provide parking in the WGAW lot, but there is ample street and metered parking around and near the building. Please read all posted signs carefully before parking.

Please use our appointment scheduler to make an appointment. Appointments are good for the entire day. Same day appointments must be made before 11am. Public walk-ins cannot be accommodated except for WGA members who show their guild card.

Use this tool also to create a profile to manage multiple visits or if you need to reschedule or cancel an upcoming appointment.

Every individual visitor to the library must have an appointment in their name. If you bring someone else with you to the library, they must have their own appointment.

Appointments can be made up to two months in advance, opening continuously.

We are closed on major holidays, the last week of December, and sometimes for special events.

Have questions or trouble scheduling? E-mail appointments@wgfoundation.org

Please use our appointment scheduler to schedule in advance. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated (except for WGA members). We can provide access to materials on-site only.

Every individual visitor to the library must have an appointment in their name. If you bring someone else to the library with you, they must have their own appointment. You must show ID to security upon arrival.

Appointments can be made up to two months in advance, with new slots opened every day. Appointments are for an entire day.

We have over 45,000 items and add more everyday. But we might not have the exact script you’re looking for. We recommend checking our library catalog and letting us know what materials you would like to read/study in advance of your appointment.

Please email us if you want to read something from off site - these scripts and collections are noted in the catalog record.

We also have great informative guides and recommendations in our Resource Center.

If you have questions about the library or our collection or need reading accommodations, call the library at 323-782-4544 or e-mail us at library@wgfoundation.org

Helping patrons is the highest priority for the Library staff, but we also have numerous other duties throughout the day. Please be mindful of our time and obligations to other patrons, and confine your conversations accordingly. Also, please limit your requests to those typically performed by a Librarian. They may not perform personal care duties or any other actions outside the scope of their job.

The Library is funded by donors who aim to create a focused and peaceful place for writers, and to help those mastering the craft of writing for the screen. We will enforce the following rules to ensure a quiet and productive space for all users. Breaking the rules will result in suspension or expulsion from the Library.

• We will not admit patrons without an appointment. Please do not show up without an appointment and ask for an exception.

• Please socially distance when possible and stay home if you are not feeling well.

• No food or drink except coffee or water with a secure lid.

• Turn off or silence your cell phone when in the Library. Sound travels within the reception area, so please go outside if you need to make a call.

• We are not a lending library, and you may not take photos of scripts. The scripts are copyrighted material and will be treated as such.

• No oversized bags or luggage.

• Provide a government or school issued ID or WGA card when reading library materials.

• No sleeping in the Library.

• Limit requests to the staff to those tasks that further the mission of the Foundation and are within the scope of the job duties of a librarian.

• Do not disrupt the tranquility of the Library in any other way not specified above.

The majority of scripts in our collection are unpublished manuscript material, with corporate authors. Due to copyright restrictions and donor agreements, scripts cannot be photocopied, e-mailed, borrowed, put online or distributed beyond our library. We are a non-circulating research library. Scripts that we make available for reading are for research and educational purposes and patrons must visit in-person to read everything (both paper and digital copies).

Here’s a helpful blog post that explains why and a short guide about copyright as it relates to unpublished work.

The library collects produced film, television, radio, video game and new media scripts, in paper and digital form. We are also actively seeking related materials like outlines, pitches and show bibles.

If you are a writer or work in the industry and want to help by donating scripts, please get in touch with us by emailing library@wgfoundation.org. The process smooth and simple.

If you are a writer, the family of a writer, or a collector who would like to donate a collection of scripts and unique archival ephemera, please get in touch by emailing library@wgfoundation.org or call the Archivist at 323-782-4680. We welcome new additions to the collections and do all we can to preserve the craft and voices of screen storytelling. Collections typically consist of script drafts for produced and unproduced projects, outlines, memos, correspondence, production ephemera like shooting schedules, and photos. The Society of American Archivists has a brief guide on what to expect when donating to an archival repository.

If you are interested in volunteering for the WGF Library, you can apply here.