Highland Park History (The First Store)…

The first store in Highland Park was located on the corner of Ave. 56 & Monte Vista.  Run by J. P. Stocksdale it opened in 1891 and incorporated a Post Office a year later.  Check out this newspaper article from the California Index for a blurry photo of the building.

So... re TOD...

I have decided that doing Trivia of the Day is a bit too overwhelming to the overall content of the blog.  In other words TOD is drowning everything else out.  Consequently I will now begin doing Trivia of the Week (TOW) with maybe a bonus trivia thrown in randomly.

TOD (answer)...

To answer the question ---> What does the palm represent when used in western art? -- I'm going to quote directly from the book here so:

In antiquity palm leaves were used to signify victory, especially military triumph, and were bestowed upon the illustrious by personifications of Victory or Fame.

Christianity adopted the palm for martyrs who had triumphed over death.  During the Flight into Egypt the fruit of the palm tree fed Joseph and the Virgin, who is shown at her death being presented with a palm. The palm is also associated with Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, when the people "took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried Hosanna: 'Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord'".  This event is remembered in the Christian celebration of Palm Sunday.

Question and answer were taken from page 166 of The Dictionary of Symbols in Western Art by Sarah Carr-Gomm.  The book was published by Facts on File in 1995.

Your Opinion...

We are always seeking your opinions about the books, movies, music, etc. we should buy; about the types of programs we should offer; about the kinds of classes we should provide; really about anything related to our services. 

If you have an opinion you would like to share, please let us know in the comments.  You can always drop by and talk to us or give us a call too, of course.  Check the side panel for contact information.

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question ---> What does the palm represent when used in western art?

TOD (answer)....

To answer the question what is Charlie Sheen's original name:
        - Carlos Irwin Estevez

I found the question and answer in The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012.  This book is published by World Almanac Books and is copyrighted 2012.  I opened to page 242.

Websites I use…

I thought I would periodically highlight a website that I have used with patrons at the reference desk. 

So one question I get asked from time to time is who painted that mural in the parking lot & what’s it supposed to be about?  The site I turn to for this question is http://www.muralconservancy.org/.  This site dedicates itself to, among other things, documenting the murals of Los Angeles.  Once on the site you can browse through mural images or search for one you are particularly looking for.  Follow this link to find the entry for the mural in the library’s parking lot.  It’s by Luis Becerra and is titled Libraries Educate, Governments Make Cutbacks – nice images of it are included as well. 

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question  --->  What is Charlie Sheen's original name?

TOD (Answer)....

& now for an answer:
     - The patron saint of gardeners is Adelard.  But since there's actually more then one we have to also accept Fiacre & Phocas as valid answers.

The question and answer were found in the book Patron Saints by Michael Freze, S.F.O.  The book was published by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing in1992. I opened the book to page 66.

Arroyo Book Club Pick for September….

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot for our September meeting.  To quote from the library catalog’s summary: “The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.”   Clearly this is a book with the potential for discussion on a large number of issues.  Stop by the library any time this month to pick up a copy of the book and then join us on September 22 at 3:00 to share your thoughts.

Trivia of the Day....

For today's question --->  who is the patron saint of gardeners?

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question ---> who was the 1958 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry?  Bonus points if you know what for.

      - Frederick Sanger.  He was awarded his prize for his discovery of the structure of Insulin.

The question (and answer) were found in the book Discover Science Almanac edited by Bryan Bunch, Jenny Tesar, and the Editors of Discover Magazine.  The book was published by Stonesong Press in 2003.  I opened to page 325.

Events for the Week of August 27...

Things going on at the library this week include:

• Introduction to Word Processing Class on Wednesday (8/29) at 10:00
• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (8/29) at 10:30
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids and Families on Thursday (8/30) at 4:00
• The Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (8/31) at 3:30

You can always check the searchable calendar of events on our website to keep abreast of programming at any of the branches of the Los Angeles Public Library.

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question is a straight up trivial fact question ---> To wit, who was the 1958 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry?  Bonus points if you know what for.

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question ---> If a man is described as husky what do we mean about him?  What is the origin of the expression?

     - A man called husky is being compared to a dog, specifically, a Siberian Husky.  Harriet Beecher Stowe first used the word with that intent in a story published in 1869.

The question and answer were found in the book A New Dictionary of Eponyms by Morton S. Freeman.  The book was published by Oxford University Press in 1997.  I opened to p. 127 and read the article that began there and continued on to page 128.

By the way an eponym is a word derived from a proper name.

About the Arroyo Book Club….

Let’s talk for a minute about the Arroyo Book Club.  The Arroyo Book Club (or ABC as I refer to it) has been going strong for the past 6 years.  We meet once a month, on the fourth Saturday of the month at 3:00, and talk about the current selection.  We alternate between fiction and non-fiction books and all the books are recommended by a member of the club (you can find a list of all the books we’ve read over the course of the years here).  

I keep a list of books recommended by the members and each month pick a title that I can find enough copies of in the system.  At the end of each meeting we each check out a copy of the next book to read (and I extend the loan period until the next meeting date so that members can bring the book with them to the meeting.)  Of course you can read the book without actually attending the meeting.  I always order enough copies of the book to satisfy local demand – generally 25. 

The meetings themselves usually have 10-12 attendees.  Not everyone attends every meeting so one month you’ll see some people while in the next you’ll see a slightly different set.  The people are all very nice and our discussions are always interesting.  Anyone is welcome to read the book & join us at our meetings.

Trivia of the Day...

Without any further ado, today's question ---> If a man is described as husky what do we mean about him?  What is the origin of the expression?

TOD (Answer)...

In answer to the question  --> Who shot President McKinley?

       -  Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist.

I found this question (and answer) in the book The Presidency of the United States by Richard M. Pious. The book was published by Oxford University Press and is copyrighted 2001.  I opened to page 171.

Highland Park History (Fire Station)….

Check out this newspaper article I found in the California Index.  It was printed on the day the “new” fire station on Figueroa was dedicated and concerned itself with providing a brief history of the “old” fire station.  Included in this history is a picture of what fire fighting was like in the early 1900s.  Also find a blurry picture of the “old” fire station complete with horse drawn fire wagon.

All in all a fascinating look into the past life of our neighborhood.

Trivia of the Day...

So now for today's question: --> Who shot President McKinley?

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question --> What is the National Anthem of Brazil?

     -  Ouviram do Ipirangas as margens placidas.  This piece was composed by Francisco Manoel Da Silva.

I found the question and answer in the book National Anthems from around the World.  The book was published by the Hal Leonard Corporation and is copyrighted 1996.  I opened to page 40.

Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council Election Committee Meeting…

On Saturday, the 25^th, the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council will hold an election committee meeting at the library from 11 am to 2 pm.  They will be using the period from 11 am to 1 pm to help those interested register to run for the council.  So if you want to run for election to the Neighborhood Council drop in and get yourself registered.  Stay for the planning committee meeting from 1 to 2.  

Trivia of the Day....

What is the National Anthem of Brazil?  Bonus points if you know the composer.

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question what ballet set in the wild west was written by Copeland in 1942 & choreographed by Agnes de Mille?

       - Rodeo

Question and answer were taken from the Oxford Dictionary of Music by Michael Kennedy.  The book was published by the Oxford University Press and is copyrighted 1994.  I opened to page 735.

Library Events for the Week of 8/20...

Things going on at the library this week include:

• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (8/22) at 10:30
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids and Families on Thursday (8/23) at 4:00
• The Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (8/24) at 3:30
• The Arroyo Book Club meets on Saturday (8/25) at 3:00 to discuss The Pillars of the Earth by Follett.

You can always check the searchable calendar of events on our website to keep abreast of programming at any of the branches of the Los Angeles Public Library.

Trivia of the Day...

What ballet set in the wild west was written by Copeland in 1942 & choreographed by Agnes de Mille?

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question --> This element is a soft, weak, ductile, dull gray, metal.  It can be used in batteries, cables, glass, solder, radiation shielding, etc.  What is the element?

          - Lead

The question & answer were found in the book Elements by John Emsley.  This book was published by the Oxford University Press in 2000.

What book impressed you when you were a child?

The first book that really stands out in my mind is the Rolling Stones by Heinlein.  I was given it for Christmas the year I was 9.  I thought at the time it was an adult book so I was very excited to read it.  The fact that I liked the book when I read it made it even better.  Looking back I realize the book is not really an adult book & indeed is a rather typical representative of the books Heinlein wrote for young teens.  However the book is important to me because it made me feel special when my parents gave it to me and because it hooked me on Science Fiction which I then proceeded to read in great quantities & still do.

What book had a lasting impression on you and why?

Trivia of the Day....

Today I had one of the MC's select a reference book for me & he picked one on the elements so brace yourself for some chemical trivia:

This element is a soft, weak, ductile, dull gray, metal.  It can be used in batteries, cables, glass, solder, radiation shielding, etc.  What is the element?

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question about plants -->

The plant in question is the Jojoba.

Question and answer found in Roadside Plants of Southern California by Thomas J. Belzer.  The book was published by the Mountain Press Publishing Company in 1984.  I opened to page 30.

History & the Arroyo Seco Library….

So today I thought I’d draw your attention to a document relevant to the historical origins of our beloved Arroyo Seco Library.  This document is a letter to the Editor of the Highland Park Herald published in 1912.  The letter details progress made on the project to purchase land and build a library for the Highland Park neighborhood. 

This little piece of historical trivia began as a newspaper article, became a clipping held in the Vertical File collection at the Arroyo Seco Library, was scanned and so became a pdf file, and was added to an online collection of such scanned items called the California Index.  This is all by means of pointing out the California Index (find it on LAPL’s website via the database link) is an excellent source of unusual and unexpected documents that have been collected over the years at the various branches of the library.  Take a look at it sometime.

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question involves plants -->

This plant is the only representative from its family found in California.  It is a shrub known for its long life (100 years) and preference for growing on dry, rocky hillsides below 5,000 feet.  It has small greenish flowers from March through May.  Its fruit has a large, oily seed that is edible and is the source of a rich drink.  What is the plant?

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question what metallic element has been used in glassmaking, is the 12th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, and was first isolated in 1774?  -->

          - Manganese

Question (and answer) found in Volume 10 of the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology published in 2002.  I opened to page 364.

Tommy & Tuppence….

Lately I’ve been rereading Agatha Christie’s series featuring Tommy & Tuppence.  Christie always did have a way with an easily readable & yet still interesting mystery and these books are no exception.  The series begins shortly after WWI in The Secret Adversary.  Here we find Tommy & Tuppence looking for mislaid papers of state that are vital to England’s future.  We then move forward in time 6 years to find the couple married and running a detective agency as a front for certain espionage activities in Partners in Crime.  In N or M? we find them at the beginning of WWII seeking to thwart plans by German sympathizers.  The final two books are By the Pricking of My Thumbs and Postern of Fate, both set well after WWII.

One thing that is interesting about the series is that it plays out in real time so we watch Tommy & Tuppence age normally through the 5 books and see how things work out in their lives.  It’s a bit harder to take Christie’s casual racism and her tendency to favor authoritarianism.  It’s possible to read this as a product of the times & find interest in how things have changed.  I’ve yet to reread the last two titles of the series, both written in the sixties.  It will be interesting to see if her attitudes changed any in the intervening years.

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question:

What metallic element has been used in glassmaking, is the 12th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, and was first isolated in 1774?

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question who invented the reflecting telescope (and when) ->
        - Isaac Newton in 1668. 

Question (and answer) fond in the book The New York Public Library Desk Reference (3rd ed.) published by Stonesong Press and copyrighted 1998.  I opened to page 125.

Library programming...

We at the library like to have what we call library programming.  Classes, events, lectures, film showings, game nights, etc., etc. for our interested patrons to attend.   We have the additional challenge that we need to provide this programming without spending any money.  Consequently, I’m always on the look out for new ideas – or new people who have a hobby they are interested in sharing with others (for free). 

So…  Let me hear from you.  What kinds of things do you find interesting?  What kinds of programs would you be interested in coming to the library for?  Would you (or anyone you know) be interested in helping us put on a program?

You can leave a comment here or email me (ayosco@lapl.org) or even phone (323-255-0537).

Trivia of the Day....

Four to 5 days a week I will post a Trivia of the Day question.  It is my intention to select the question by first randomly picking a reference book from the shelf behind me and then opening the book to a random page to select a random bit of information to turn into our trivia question.  I will post the answer to the question before I post the next question - generally the next day.  So for our first question...

Who invented the reflecting telescope?  Bonus points for when.

Library Events for the week of 8/13...

This back to school week is a relatively quiet one for us here at the library.  We do have several activities going on however:

• On Wednesday (8/15) we have Baby & Toddler Storytime at 10:30.  This weekly storytime session is open to all kids 3 & under and their accompanying adult.
• Also on Wednesday we have the LACMA Teen Art Class at 4:00.
• On Thursday (8/16) we have the LACMA Art Class for Kids & Families at 4:00. 
• Also on Thursday we have a Computer Basics class at 6:30. 
• Finally on Friday (8/17) we have our Drop in Computer Lab.  Bring any computer or tech related question and if we can't answer it we will work with you to find the answer.

You can always check the searchable calendar of events on our website to keep abreast of programming at any of the branches of the Los Angeles Public Library.

My Inaugural Post...

This really isn't going to say much.  Rather I'm just playing with text and settings at the moment.  Hopefully I'll get more focused on what I say as soon as I've got all the technical aspects worked out in my mind.

To throw a bit of the library related into this let me plug a book that just arrived.  It's Karma by Carly Phillips (Book Description),  This is a quick and easy, fun romance read.  Probably just about perfect for August.  Follow the book description link to wind up in LAPL's catalog where you can see more details about the book, which branches own copies, and even place a hold for yourself.