Happy Halloween

Enjoy a few images of tykes in costume pulled from the LAPL photo collection. These images all came from 1962, so the kids pictured are likely grandparents now.
 

Trivia of the Month (Answer)...

This month’s question was how long have the pine family (think trees) been around?  The pine family (Pinaceae) have been around since at least the Lower Cretaceous period (135 million years ago).

The question (and answer) were taken from p. 63 of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Trees of the World  edited by Bayard Hora.  The book was published in 1981 by Oxford University Press.

Arroyo Book Club’s November Pick…

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading something a bit different for November, to wit a fantasy novel originally written as a children’s book. Specifically, we will be reading Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea. 

To quote from a New York Public Library blog entry:

This classic about a young magician who hones his powers at a wizarding school on the fictional archipelago of Earthsea is one of Le Guin's most beloved novels. Originally published as a children's book in 1968, it's become widely regarded as a high fantasy novel, cited as an influence by David Mitchell and a "wellspring" of fantasy by Margaret Atwood. If you can't get enough of Earthsea after you finish this, check out the rest of the books in Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle to immerse yourself in the lore of this richly crafted world.

Find information about the book and author as well as related resource materials on the NEA’s Big Read site here: https://www.arts.gov/national-initiatives/nea-big-read/a-wizard-of-earthsea.

It should be a fun read ending in a discussion right before the Thanksgiving holiday.  Pick up a copy at the library and join us on November 23 at 3:00 for that discussion.

Events for the Week of October 27….

Events going on at the library this week include:

Monday – 10/28
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Halloween Storytime and Craft at 4:00

Tuesday – 10/29
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00

Wednesday – 10/30
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 11/1
Drop in Computer Lab 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

Library Events in November…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library has some interesting events planned in November.  I thought I’d take a minute and give you a run down so you can plan ahead.  Let’s start with the non-repeating events:

- - - - - - - - - -
11/4 @ 4:00
Building Blocks Club
Can you make something super cool?

11/5 @ 3:00
Teen Program
Join us for some teen-riffic fun.

11/5 @ 6:00
Círculo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

11/7 @ 4:00
Create-a-Zine
Free workshop for all ages. Craft your own custom zine.

11/9 @ 3:00
Collage Magnets
Create cute little magnets while playing with collage as an artistic medium. All ages welcome.

11/10 @ 3:00
Sunday Movie
Join us for a fun, animated film.

11/16 @ 1:00
Man One on Graffiti Art
Listen to a Los Angeles artist speak about his passion.

11/18 @ 4:00
Disney’s Frozen Crafts & Activities
Join us for some thematic fun.

11/19 @ 3:00
Teen Program
Join us for some teen-riffic fun.

11/19 @ 6:00
Círculo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

11/23 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a discussion of Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea

11/25 @ 4:00
Native American Heritage Storytime & Craft
Join us for traditional stories and crafts.

- - - - - - - - - -

Each month the library also has a number of ongoing classes & events.  They are:

Grupo de apoyo para la familia - - - Mondays at 10:00

Baby Storytime - - - Tuesdays at 10:30
Stories, songs, and rhymes await babies up to 18 months. (No program on 11/19)

Toddler Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 10:30 
Little Ones’ 3 and under & their grownups are invited to join us for stories, music, & games. (No program on 11/27)

LAPD Read Along - - - Tuesdays at 3:00
Officers from the LAPD read favorite stories with kids.

STAR Volunteer Readers - - - Wednesdays at 3:00 and Thursdays at 3:00.
STAR readers present the fun of storytelling and reading to children one-on-one or in small groups. Kids earn a free book to keep after 3 visits.

Drop in Computer Lab - - - Fridays at 3:30
Bring your questions about computers, tablets, eReaders, or other electronic devices.  We will do our best to help you figure out answers.

- - - - - - - - - -

Please do not hesitate to call the library at 323-255-0537 if you have any questions or would like more information.  Remember that 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.

Proust and the Squid

In Proust and the Squid Maryanne Wolf explores the question of reading acquisition… both the acquisition of reading in our species and its acquisition by the individual.  She begins by exploring the development of reading in various human cultures and how various regions of the brain had to be co-opted to make this new skill work.  Because reading is a “cultural tool” we foist upon our brain it is not genetically there, consequently every new reader most reiterate the process required to get the brain reading and reading at a rate of fluency.  Wolf uses this bridge to continue on with an examination of the individual reader’s development of the skill with a particular focus on where and why this process can go wrong.

All in all this was a fascinating book with some implications about how you can help your reluctantly reading children and suggestions about when you need professional help so the child does not fall irredeemably behind.  I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in exploring how reading works.

Events for the Week of October 20….

Events going on at the library this week include:

Monday – 10/21
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Family Storytime and Craft at 4:00

Tuesday – 10/22
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
Teen Program at 3:00

Wednesday – 10/23
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 10/24
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 10/25
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 10/26
Arroyo Book Club meets 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

Exhibit & Programming

The Library Foundation is currently running an exhibit that is based around the recently published book The Autograph Book of LA which is itself based around the Library’s collection of “improved pages” or autographs.  All of this is relevant to our branch because the Library Foundation is also sponsoring programming around the themes of the exhibit and the book, two of which will be here.

The Exhibit asks the question, how can you leave your mark on the city?  We are exploring that question in two different programs…

The first explores Graffiti Art.  Man One, a Los Angeles based artist, will speak about leaving his mark on the world via the transformation of graffiti into an art form.  This program will take place on Saturday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m.

The second program encourages you to make your own mark on the city, in this case via the design and creation of your own zine which you will then share with the world.  The good folks from DSTL Arts will be helping you through the process.  This workshop is open to all ages so bring the whole family and join us on Thursday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m.

Let me conclude this blog entry with a series of links that provide more information about the various organizations and exhibits mentioned herein:

Find information about the Autograph Book exhibit here: https://www.lapl.org/events/exhibits/autograph-book-la

Browse through the portion of the Library’s autograph collection that is online here: https://tessa.lapl.org/cdm/search/collection/autograph

Find the catalog entry for The Autograph Book of LA here:
https://ls2pac.lapl.org/?section=resource&resourceid=2056860158

Find the Library Foundation’s website here: https://lfla.org/

Find Man One’s online portfolio here: https://www.manone.com/

Find DSTL Arts website here: https://www.dstlarts.org/

Challenge (with prizes)…

Money Matters at the Los Angeles Public Library, and we want to help send you On Your Way to financial freedom. 

Through the end of October, the library is hosting On Your Way: Winning Tips for Financial Success, a free, online challenge that allows patrons to win a series of great prizes just by using some of the library’s many online financial resources.  Once signed up for the game you will challenge yourself by completing activities related to your own financial journey — earning badges along the way, and a chance to win rewards. Don't settle, take control of your savings and wealth!

This is a game with prizes… three completers will win $100 Visa Gift Cards, while 5 others win a Financial Budget Planner.

Visit www.lapl.org/onyourway to sign up.

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question is how long have the pine family (think trees) been around?

Events for the Week of October 13….

The library will be closed on Monday, October 14 in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day.  Events going on at the library during the remainder of the week include:

Sunday – 10/13
Presentation on the Origins of Sherlock Holmes at 2:00

Tuesday – 10/15
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
Círculo de Lectores at 6:00

Wednesday – 10/16
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00
Financial Literacy for the Self-Employed at 6:30

Thursday – 10/17
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 10/18
Drop in Computer Lab 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

Prodigal Tongue

In Prodigal Tongue linguist Lynne Murphy investigates the relation between British and American English.  She, an American who has spent most of her adult life in England, gives us the story of the language from both sides.  The British worry about the language being corrupted by American English and the Americans have a verbal inferiority complex.  She manages to make the case that both are wrong by presenting us with the compelling story of the two varieties of English in relation to each other since the Revolutionary War. 

This is a fascinating book that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in the vagueries of language and language usage.

October’s eResource of the Month

The electronic resource of the month for the month of October is the Testing & Education Reference Center.  This database is an excellent source of school & career prep tools.  On it you will find over 300 practice tests and courses, information on over 4,000 accredited schools, ebooks containing study materials, a scholarship search, a resume builder, and career modules with subjects from career change to salary negotiations.  If you have a test of any kind… standard SAT or GRE, new job placement test, career specific test, and so on, and so on… then this is the resource for you.

The Testing & Education Reference Center is accessible from any computer though you will need to have your library card & PIN handy if you are not on a library computer.  Access it by going to the library’s web page (http://www.lapl.org/), clicking into the Research & Homework section, and then scrolling down the alphabetical list of resources to the T’s (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#T). 

Events for the Week of October 6….

Events going on at the library this week include:

Monday – 10/7
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
CA Saves Table from 2:30-4:30
Building Block Challenge at 4:00

Tuesday – 10/8
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
Teen Fun at 3:00

Wednesday – 10/9
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 10/10
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 10/11
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 10/12
Indie Author Day, panels from 10:00 through 4:00

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

History of Highland Park…

Here is a report titled “Uptown” Los Angeles Through the Years: A History of Highland Park by Evelyn Byard.  Written in 1979 it is exactly as described by its title.  The screen clip is from the article and is a memory test for those who've lived in the area for a while.  Check it out.

Arroyo Book Club’s October Pick

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading Susan Orlean’s The Library Book for its October meeting.  In this book Orlean recounts the events leading up to and following the Central Library fire, providing lots of interesting details about the Los Angeles Public Library, and sharing an enthusiastic (and contagious) love for the institution of the library.  This will be a fun book because we are all LAPL adjacent and can bring our own knowledge to the discussion.

Pick up a copy of the book at the library and join us on October 26 at 3:00 for discussion.