We are a branch of the Los Angeles Public Library located in Highland Park. Keep yourself updated on our doings here...
(through a solar telescope)
Take an up close and personal look at the sun safely with the help of the Sidewalk Astronomers.
The Sidewalk Astronomers will set up telescopes with hydrogen-alpha blocking filters, which will allow safe viewing of sunspots and solar prominences, on the sidewalk in front of the library. Come by and take a look on Saturday, April 12 between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Everyone is welcome
Today’s book plate is a black and white plate of a man and woman standing under an arch and above several coats of arms. The plate is dated 1922 and was for the collection of Harold Jeffreys Abrams and Blanch Fallon. View the full image here
Our April read will be Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. To quote the book publisher:
“Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her "head-for-the-hills bag." In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father's junkyard. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara's older brothers became violent. As a way out, Tara began to educate herself, learning enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University. Her quest for knowledge would transform her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she'd traveled too far, if there was still a way home. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Tara Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes, and the will to change it.”
Stop by the branch to pick up a copy to read, while they last. You will find them in the usual location, just ask if you don’t know where that is. If you prefer an ebook, you’ll find copies of the title in Libby.
We will meet to discuss the book on Saturday, April 26 at 3 p.m. It will be a hybrid meeting so you have the option of attending in person or via Zoom. If you’d like to join us via Zoom let us know at ayosco@lapl.org so we can get the link to you
The Arroyo Writing Group will meet on April 17th at 6 p.m. We will be sharing our responses to the writing prompt:
Write a day in the life piece about an ancestor of yours who lived at least 200 years ago. (Research required... Check out the library's research page for useful databases)
This is a fiction assignment backstopped by some real, factual detail. So, find your starting place and then feel free to embellish.
The Arroyo Writing Group is for anyone interested in trying their hand at writing. We welcome you whether you are new to the art or and old expert looking for convivial place to share your work. Join our group for practice both writing short pieces across many genres and sharing your writing with others.
Questions? Need more information? Reach out to us at ayosco@lapl.org
This month’s question was where can you find the complete text of a poem about mathematics by a female author. The answer is through the LitFinder resource. One poem that meets the criteria is “Math Is Beautiful and So Are You” by Becky Dennison Sakellariou.
Lit Finder allows advanced searching that lets you specify what you’re looking for along a number of dimensions. This search accesses thousands of full-text poems, stories, essays, plays and speeches.
Find this e-reference work on the library’s Research & Homework page under “L” and access it with your library card.
Citation:
Sakellariou, Becky Dennison. "Math Is Beautiful and So Are You." Beloit Poetry Journal, vol. 53, no. 1, 2002, p. 19. Gale Literature: LitFinder
All the fun of book club without having to read the book ahead of time!
Join us as we take turns reading short works of fiction authored by women aloud. We will then discuss the works, sharing our thoughts.
Perfect if you’re looking for an interesting afternoon where you can both share your “ham actor” with some expressive reading and share your opinions in thoughtful discussion.
The event will take place on Saturday, March 29th at 3 PM at the Arroyo Seco Library.
Today’s movie poster is advertising the film “Daphne and the Pirate,” a 1916 Triangle Fine Arts production. The poster shows a Scene from the period adventure film depicting Daphne La Tour (Lillian Gish) and Philip de Mornay (Elliott Dexter). Signed, "In remembrance, Lillian Gish; April 16--1978." View the full image here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/movie/id/3/rec/5
The book is humorous, chock full of lively characters, with a fast pace. Take a break from the modern world with it and dip into life in the early 1800s.
Where can you find the complete text of a poem about mathematics by a female author? This, obviously, is another of our questions designed to highlight a library resource.
If you’re looking for humorous, light romance mixed with a bit of mystery and a bit of suspense then Elizabeth Peters is an author worth digging up. Today let’s take a quick look at her Copenhagen Connection. In this book Elizabeth Jones, a young woman off on a vacation to Denmark, spots her idol, author Margaret Rosenberg, on the plane. When Margaret’s secretary has an accident upon arrival at the Copenhagen airport Elizabeth jumps at the chance to step in and offer her assistance. Shortly thereafter Margaret disappears, perhaps kidnapped, perhaps on her own recognizance, and Elizabeth and Margaret’s son Christian set out to find her. In the course of the ensuing adventure Elizabeth and Christian fall in love.
This is escapism. Although written in the early 80’s and set in the late 70’s the story as a whole feels fairly timeless and remains an interesting read even today. Give it a try if romantic adventure is your cup of tea.
Today’s travel poster celebrates France. It shows a bridge over a river, possibly the Tech, in Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, France. The town and the Pyrenees are visible in the distance. View the full image here
The Arroyo Writing Group will meet on March 20th at 6 p.m. We will be sharing our responses to the writing prompt:
You find strange muddy footprints leading up to your doorway...
The Arroyo Writing Group is for anyone interested in trying their hand at writing. We welcome you whether you are new to the art or and old expert looking for convivial place to share your work. Join our group for practice both writing short pieces across many genres and sharing your writing with others.
Questions? Need more information? Reach out to us at ayosco@lapl.org
The Arroyo Book Club will be participating in the NEA Big Read program again this year and so…. Our March book will be The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Here we find the story of Esperanza Cordero, growing up in Chicago and inventing for herself who and what she will become. "In English my name means hope," she says. "In Spanish it means too many letters. It means sadness, it means waiting."
A copy of the book will be yours to keep while supplies last. Pick one up from the usual spot. If you’re a fan of ebooks, find the ebook version of the title on libby here.
Find the NEA’s page for this book here. The page includes the discussion questions we will be using as well as additional information about the work.
We will meet to discuss the book on Saturday, March 22 at 3 p.m. If you can’t join us in person but would like to follow along remotely please send an email to ayosco@lapl.org so we can add you to the link list.
This month we asked who runs the Sierra Club. If we consider those who run to be the “Officers and Management” then the answer is in the accompanying screen clip, starting with Benjamin Todd Jealous.
The answer was found in Leadership Connect. Leadership Connect is a people intelligence service covering leaders in business, government, and nonprofits for the past 50 years. Individuals can utilize this platform to see who is holding high level positions across government, business, and nonprofits.
Find this e-reference work on the library’s Research & Homework page under “L” and access it with your library card.
When: February 23 at 3 p.m.
What: Swing by for a relaxing, art filled afternoon. We will be creating zentangles or working on an old-fashioned coloring project. Set your cares aside and join us
Who: Adults primarily but we will have child friendly activities as well.
Where: The Arroyo Seco Library at 6145 N. Figueroa Street in Highland Park
In The Premonition Michael Lewis takes a narrative journey through our recent experience with COVID-19. His focus is on what preparation for pandemic events there was, what preparation there could have been, and what people actually did. He introduces us to an eclectic mix of characters as he narrates what impact they had on the way the pandemic unfolded. The book is a fascinating read. Recommended.
What: Join us to create a refrigerator magnet. Customized
just the way you want. Options include making a collage of relevant images,
composing a poem using found words, trying a little bit of mosaic design. The sky’s
the limit and it’s all up to you. As a side
note, I did the program 20 years ago and the magnet I created is still on my
refrigerator and still looking good, so this thing has staying power.
When: Saturday, February 15 at 3 p.m.
Where: The Arroyo Seco Library / 6145 N. Figueroa St.
Who: Meant for adults but everyone is welcome.
Turning our attention to the map collection, we have Baist's real estate atlas of surveys of Los Angeles, California, 1921. This particular map set “Covers the area of Los Angeles in a roughly 6-7 mile concentric circle centered on Broadway and First Street in downtown Los Angeles. Includes index to tracts additions and subdivisions, tract maps, and the San Fernando Valley. Complete in one volume, compiled and published from official records, private records, actual surveys"
Find the map set here
Parents and students are welcome to attend this workshop to ensure you are prepared to make informed decisions about higher education costs without unnecessary burdens.
Our February read will be Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. To quote the book publisher: “A young woman from Nigeria leaves behind her home and her first love to start a new life in America, only to find her dreams are not all she expected”
Stop by the branch to pick up a copy to read, while they last. You will find them in the usual location, just ask if you don’t know where that is. If you prefer an ebook, you’ll find copies of the title in Libby.
We will meet to discuss the book on Saturday, February 22 at 3 p.m. It will be a hybrid meeting so you have the option of attending in person or via Zoom. If you’d like to join us via Zoom let us know at ayosco@lapl.org so we can get the link to you.
This month we asked what is a goiter. To quote from our source:
“A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. When the gland enlarges, you may see or feel a swelling on your neck. A goiter can develop in someone with a normal thyroid, overactive thyroid, or underactive thyroid. The treatment will depend on the cause of the goiter.”
This information was found in Krames Online HealthSheets on the sheet titled “Common Thyroid Problems.” Krames Online HealthSheets provide consumer-friendly health education materials written for patients on diagnosis, treatment options, surgeries and procedures, wellness and safety and on-going self-care strategies. Also available in Spanish.
This is a resource you can access with your library card from any branch computer.
Story: Your choice / Medium: Dialogue. Tell a story solely through the conversation of your characters
The Arroyo Writing Group is for anyone interested in trying their hand at writing. We welcome you whether you are new to the art or and old expert looking for convivial place to share your work. Join our group for practice both writing short pieces across many genres and sharing your writing with others.
Questions? Need more information? Reach out to us at ayosco@lapl.org
Here is another fruit crate label. This one is for the Placentia Mutual Orange Assn’s Albion label. It features Valencia oranges next to some quite lovely roses.
Access the label here
The next entry we’re sharing from our digital collection comes from the Autograph collection. Here we have the signature (& some supplemental documents) of Author and Poet Charles Follen Adams. Signature taken in 1907. Materials cover period from 1901-1910
Access the full document here