Websites I use…

Well anyone who’s actually reading my little library blog is probably already aware of the nelalist but just in case you’re not check it out.  The nelalist (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nelalist/) is a yahoo group that posts messages about the neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles.  Read the messages to find out what is going on in the minds of your neighbors.  Use the list to get word out about events, issues, questions that you have yourself.  An excellent local resource.

Dragon Ship

Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller is another entry in their Liaden Universe series.  It is a specific sequel to the book Ghost Ship (though I had no trouble following the adventure without having read that book).  I have always enjoyed the Lee & Miller titles I’ve picked up and this one is no exception.  Basically they are pure old fashioned space opera.  In this one we follow (principally) the ship Bechimo and crew as they venture out to establish a trade route.

I would recommend this title, indeed I would recommend any from the series. 

The Arroyo Book Club for March…

This March we will be reading the book The Soloist by Steve Lopez.  This non-fiction book tells the story of a LA Times reporter and a “Violin Man” on Skid Row.  It began as a series of columns, became a book, and was turned into a film.

  We will be airing the film on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:30.   

So… stop by the library for a copy of the book.  Join us for the film screening.  Finally, come to the book club meeting on 3/23 to discuss what you’re thoughts are on the book and/or on the movie.

Trivia of the Week...

This week's question is:

Where have the largest numbers of meteorites been discovered in the past decade?

TOW (& Answer)...

This week’s question was what is the Pendleton Act? 

The Pendleton Act was an act mandating that federal government jobs be awarded on the basis of merit.  It was passed in 1883 and signed into law by Chester A. Arthur, who was President because a “disgruntled” job seeker had assassinated President Garfield.

The question (and answer) were taken from page 118 of Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives. The book was published by Oxford University Press in 2003 

Events for the Week of February 25…

Things going on at the library during the week include:

• Telescope Night on Monday (2/25) from 6:00-7:45 --- Weather permitting
• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednescay (2/27) at 10:30
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids & Families on Thursday (2/28) at 4:00
• Introduction to Word Processing class also on Thursday at 6:30
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (3/1) at 3:30

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

LAPL Reads...

Don’t know what book to read next?  Looking for something vaguely similar to this book you really liked?  Take a look at the LAPL Reads (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/lapl-reads) section of the LAPL website.  Here you will find what “our librarians are reading,” recent arrivals, popular (or hot) titles, new books by genre, and a ton of book lists on a wide variety of topics (including our very own ABC (Arroyo Book Club) Picks – which lists every book the book club has read in the many years since its founding). 

Drop in sometime and browse around.

Highland Park History….

Did you know that Mammoth bones were found during the excavation for Sparkletts Water company in 1939?  Check out this photo & caption (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520350.pdf) to see.

Trivia of the Week...

The question this week is what is the Pendleton Act?

Events for the Week of February 18…

The library will be closed Monday (2/18) for President’s Day.  Things going on at the library during the week include:

• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (2/20) at 10:30
• Introduction to Spreadsheets also on Wednesday at 12:00
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids & Families on Thursday (2/21) at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (2/22) at 3:30
• Arroyo Book Club on Saturday (2/23) at 3:00

Looking ahead - - - Mark your calendar for Monday (2/25) - - - weather permitting we will have TELESCOPE NIGHT starting at 6:00.

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

TOW (& answer)…

The question for the week was what is a bonga?  A bonga is the Santal (a group from India) name for an evil spirit who lives in the hills, trees, or rivers.  Bongas are usually female.  The bonga figures in numerous Santal folktales. 

The question (and answer) were found on page 155 of volume 1 of Funk & Wagnall’s Standard Dictionary of Folklore Mythology and Legend.  The book in question has a copyright date of 1949.

ed2go

ed2go is another tool offering online instruction made available for you with your library card.  They offer:

 “… a wide range of highly interactive online courses.   All of the courses are free, and led by expert instructors. Courses run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month.” Courses are offered in a wide variety of subjects including: Accounting and Finance, Business, College Readiness, Computer Applications, Design and Composition, Health Care and Medical, Language and Arts, Law and Legal, Personal Development, Teaching and Education, Technology, & Writing and Publishing.  *These courses have been designed for learners over 13 years of age.

 Access the site from LAPL’s Research & Homework page (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#E).  You will need to be ready to enter your library card # and PIN.  Once online you can browse available classes or search for a specific class, read about the specific class, enroll in & take the class.

Check out the flyer (http://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/articles-and-information/pdfs/13-02flyer.pdf) for more information.

A Walk in the Park

If you’re looking for a cute, entertaining, light weight modern romance look no further than A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell.  This book is not deep & doesn't pretend to be.  It tells the tale of a pair of lovers who were separated in their teens and meet again years later.  It also follows the romances of all their friends.

Recommended for those who like unexplicit romance books. 

Trivia of the Week...

This week’s question is: what is a bonga?

Events for the Week of February 11…

Things going on at the library during the week include:

• Teen Council Meeting on Tuesday (2/12) at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Teens on Wednesday (2/13) at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids & Families on Thursday (2/14) at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (2/15) at 3:30

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

TOW (& Answer)…

The week’s question asked the cost of a particular ironstone teapot (image at: https://www.kovels.com/images/price_guide/pottery___porcelain/ironstone/ironstone-teapot-ca061210-0185.jpg).  The answer is $136. 

The question (and answer) were found on page 359 of Kovels Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide 2012.  The book is edited by Terry and Kim Kovel & published by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.

Talking to the Dead

Talking to the Dead is a mystery, set in Wales, and written by Harry Bingham.  The main character, Fi Griffiths is a police officer working, with a large number of colleagues, on a grim murder case.  Fi herself suffers from some psychological problems that make her approach to things quite unique.  The story itself was fairly interesting and reasonably entertaining.  But… sometimes you can read a book with a female point of view that is written by a man and not even know (or care) that the author is a man.  Sometimes you can’t.  This is one of the times you can’t.  Even though he has created a psychologically damaged character she still doesn’t come across as a believable woman (at least to me).  This is a man writing what he thinks a woman thinks and feels (and getting it wrong).  I will admit that I’m curious if a man reading this book would find her as unrealistic as I do or if he would just accept the stereotypes and misinformation that the author apparently has and find her authentic.

All in all, I would not recommend this book.

History of Highland Park…

Have you ever wondered about the mechanics of fighting fires before the modern days of fire trucks and modern pumping technology?  Take a look at this 5/9/1981 article (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520381.pdf) from the Highland News Herald that talks about a “water-spewing ‘tower’” that fought fires in early Los Angeles.  The article includes pictures. 

Epic Win for Anonymous

The book Epic Win for Anonymous by Cole Stryker while being very good was not what I thought it would be when I checked it out.  I thought it would be about the hacker collective Anonymous.  Instead it was a more general portrait of what might be termed the participatory Internet.  It traced the history of online communities from the very early days of the Internet right up through the current day taking a look at how they’ve changed over time and what they offer society in general.  All in all a very interesting, though I can’t help but feel misleadingly titled, book. 

I would recommend it. 

Trivia of the Week…

This week’s trivia question is what does an ironstone John Ridgeway & co teapot, 7 inches in purple cost (ballpark)?  Go here (https://www.kovels.com/images/price_guide/pottery___porcelain/ironstone/ironstone-teapot-ca061210-0185.jpg) to see a picture.

Events for the Week of February 4…

Things going on at the library during the week include:

• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (2/6) at 10:30
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids & Families on Thursday (2/7) at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (2/8) at 3:30
• Computer Basics on Saturday (2/9) at 2:00
• Scrabble for Everyone also on Saturday at 3:00

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

TOW (& Answer)…

This week’s question revolved around the radio interferometer.  A radio interferometer is an astronomical instrument involving several radio telescopes controlled by computer.  It was developed by Sir Martin Ryle (and team) in 1955.  This method allowed astronomers to get the results the would get from a very large telescope by combing the observations of a number of smaller ones.

The question, and answer, were taken from p. 628-229 of Great Scientific Achievements of the Twentieth Century volume 6.  The work was published by Salem Press in 1994.