Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Monthly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

painting showing man addressing a political body all in 18th c. dress

This month we asked for the name of a man instrumental in the wars for independence in South America?  There are many right answers but we were thinking of Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.  

Bolívar was influential in achieving independence in the Spanish territories that included modern-day Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. José de San Martín played major and minor roles in the liberation of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile. Both of these men worked simultaneously on different ends of South America, and then met in the middle to liberate Peru together.

The question, and answer, were found in Latino American Experience. The Latino American Experience provides over 200 volumes of content, from encyclopedias to biographies, and primary documents dating from pre-Colonial civilizations, that explore Latino history and contemporary culture in the United States. Includes a timeline, images, maps, and lesson plans.  Find it on the library’s Research & Homework page under “L” and access it with your library card.


Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Committed

 


In Committed Adam Stern recounts his experience as a Psychiatric Resident.  Stern shares his experiences during his first and second years, his encounters with patients, interacting with his teachers and his fellow residents, his self-doubt, and his growing competence. The book is a fascinating look at the workings of a psychiatric ward and is told entirely in a conversational, no medical experience or knowledge needed to understand what’s going on, manner.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes to “walk in someone else’s shoes” via memoir.


Sunday, January 18, 2026

Programming Coming up This Week

Note that the Library will be closed on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Find the in person programs at our branch during the week below (all programs are in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

Sunday
1:00-5:00 Tech Help

Monday
Library closed in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tuesday
10:00-3:30 Tech Help
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey
3:00 DIY Archives: Info Session

Wednesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Miss Katherine
4:00-6:00 Walk-In Tutoring

Thursday 
10:00-3:30 Tech Help
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime

Saturday
10:30 Shape Party
11:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey
3:00 Arroyo Book Club (in person OR online / ayosco@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...


Wednesday, January 14, 2026

LAPL’s Digital Collection: Movie Posters

 

head of a woman surrounded by several others under movie title & star names

Today’s movie poster is for the 1933 movie Hot Pepper. The poster shows depictions of Pepper (Lupe Velez) and Harry Quirt (Edmund Lowe) with Jim Flagg (Victor McLaglen) surrounded by women. Text from the poster notes: Hot Pepper with Edmond Lowe, Victor McLaglen, Lupe Velez, El Brendel; A comedy drama with the characters Quirt and Flagg originally created by Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson;Directed by John Blystone; A Fox Picture. 

View the full image here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/movie/id/4/rec/8

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Telescope Night

 

backlit image of a man looking through a telescope

The ever-popular Telescope Night returns (weather permitting) to the Arroyo Seco Library on Tuesday, January 27.  We will begin at 6:30 and wrap things up shortly before the library closes at 8:00.  We should be able to see Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon.  Mark your calendar and plan to drop by.  Do note that the event is weather dependent, so if there are clouds on the day give us a call after 3:00 for word on the status of the program.

For those who don’t know what Telescope Night is…  During Telescope Night a group of local astronomers, the Sidewalk Astronomers, sets up telescopes outside the library and points them at objects of interest in the night sky.  Everyone is invited to take as many turns as they’d like looking through the telescopes.  The Sidewalk Astronomers are very knowledgeable and will answer your questions & chat about how they made the telescopes.  Bring your questions with you.


Sunday, January 11, 2026

Programming Coming up This Week

Find the in person programs at our branch during the week below (all programs are in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

Sunday
1:00-5:00 Tech Help

Monday
4:00 Pokémon Club

Tuesday
10:00-3:30 Tech Help
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey

Wednesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Miss Katherine
4:00 Breakdance with Eric Nishimoto
4:00-6:00 Walk-In Tutoring
6:00 Círculo de Lectores

Thursday 
10:00-3:30 Tech Help
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime

Saturday
11:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey

Catch up with us on various sites...


Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Monthly Trivia Question…

 This month the question is name a man instrumental in the wars for independence in South America?

Monday, January 5, 2026

So We Meet Again

 


If you’re after some escapist, light romance then So We MeetAgain by Suzanne Park meets the bill.  Jessie Kim, a go-getting Wall Street financier, is laid off. She moves back home to Nashville to lick her wounds and work out what’s next. Struck by inspiration she launches a new business to provide “hacks” to prepackaged meals to bring a zest of Korean spiciness to their rescue.  During all of this she runs into Daniel Choi, also back in town. Daniel was her childhood nemesis, the kid her parents always measured her against. And, annoyingly, Daniel appears to still have it all together. 

If you can overlook the slightly improbability of Jessie rather rapid success once her business starts, you will find a charming story packed full of characters you wouldn’t mind spending time with in real life. Pick it up for a couple of hours of escape.


Sunday, January 4, 2026

Programming Coming up This Week

Find the in person programs at our branch during the week below (all programs are in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

Sunday
1:00-5:00 Tech Help

Monday
4:00 Life-Sized Self Portraits

Tuesday
10:00-3:30 Tech Help
3:00 DIY Archives: Info Session
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey

Wednesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Miss Katherine
4:00-6:00 Walk-In Tutoring

Thursday 
10:00-3:30 Tech Help
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime

Saturday
11:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey

Catch up with us on various sites...


Wednesday, December 31, 2025

LAPL’s Digital Collection: Travel Posters

 


Today’s travel poster is an undated railway promotional poster from Belgium depicting the shore along Ostend and the casino.  View the full image here

Monday, December 29, 2025

Arroyo Book Club’s January Pick…

 


The Arroyo Book Club will be reading Our Moon by Rebecca Boyle for our January discussion. As the catalog description puts it:

 "Acclaimed journalist Rebecca Boyle takes readers on a dazzling tour to reveal the intimate role that our 4.51-billion-year-old companion has played in our biological and cultural evolution."

Stop by the branch to pick up a copy to read. You will find them in the usual location, just ask if you don’t know where that is. 

We will come together to discuss the book on Saturday, January 24 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 send an email to ayosco@lapl.org so we can get the link to you.


Sunday, December 28, 2025

Programming Coming up This Week

Note that the library will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st and remain closed all day Thursday, January 1st in celebration of the New Year.

Find the in person programs at our branch during the week below (all programs are in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

Sunday
1:00-5:00 Tech Help

Monday
12:00 Monday Meditation With Don Cadora (email eden@lapl.org for link)

Tuesday
10:00-3:30 Tech Help
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey

Wednesday
Library closes today at 5 p.m.

Thursday 
Library closed for New Year’s Day

Saturday
11:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey
11:00-5:00 Cedars-Sinai Blood Drive

Catch up with us on various sites...


Wednesday, December 24, 2025

LAPL’s Digital Collection: Fashion Plates

 


Today’s fashion plate is from an unknown magazine. It was published in 1780. It shows examples of pre-Revolution style. The women wear powdered wigs, dresses with narrow waists and large hoop skirts. Find the full image here

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Battle Royal

 


If you like charming, cake infested, romance then you’ll love Battle Royale by Lucy Parker. Sylvie Fairchild is a whimsical baker with a penchant for glitter. Her bakery is located across the street from that of Dominic De Vere, a meticulous decorator with a mastery of flavor. The engagement of the princess is announced and the competition commences. Of course there are no sparks without fire and soon Sylvie and Dominic are falling.  There is, of course, more to the story then just this as old mysteries are solved, royal romance is rescued, and new enemies are vanquished.

This is a quick, enjoyable read for anyone who likes their romance with some serious story wrapped around it.