Trivia of the Month (& Answer)...

This month’s question was what does the egg symbolize to Christians?  To quote from our source, the egg is “a long-standing symbol of the Resurrection because of the way the chick breaks through the shell at birth.”

The question (& answer) were found on p. 58 of Outward Signs: The Language of Christian Symbolism by Canon Edward N. West.  The book was published in 1989 by Walker & Company.

The Arroyo Book Club’s February Pick…

The Arroyo Book Club’s book for February is The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee.  The book is billed as the biography of cancer.  I pulled the following enticing description of the work from Amazon.com:

“Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and now a documentary from Ken Burns on PBS, The Emperor of All Maladies is a magnificent, profoundly humane “biography” of cancer—from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic battles in the twentieth century to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence.

Physician, researcher, and award-winning science writer, Siddhartha Mukherjee examines cancer with a cellular biologist’s precision, a historian’s perspective, and a biographer’s passion. The result is an astonishingly lucid and eloquent chronicle of a disease humans have lived with—and perished from—for more than five thousand years.

The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance, but also of hubris, paternalism, and misperception. Mukherjee recounts centuries of discoveries, setbacks, victories, and deaths, told through the eyes of his predecessors and peers, training their wits against an infinitely resourceful adversary that, just three decades ago, was thought to be easily vanquished in an all-out “war against cancer.” The book reads like a literary thriller with cancer as the protagonist. 

From the Persian Queen Atossa, whose Greek slave may have cut off her diseased breast, to the nineteenth-century recipients of primitive radiation and chemotherapy to Mukherjee’s own leukemia patient, Carla, The Emperor of All Maladies is about the people who have soldiered through fiercely demanding regimens in order to survive—and to increase our understanding of this iconic disease. 

Riveting, urgent, and surprising, The Emperor of All Maladies provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of cancer treatments. It is an illuminating book that provides hope and clarity to those seeking to demystify cancer.”

It certainly sounds interesting.  Stop by the library for your copy and plan to join us for discussion on Saturday, February 25 at 3:00.

Events for the Week of January 29….

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Make it Monday featuring pH experiments with CalTech scientists on Monday (1/30) at 4:00
• Teen program on Tuesday (1/31/) at 3:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (2/1) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (2/2) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• OIC Computer Boot Camp on Friday (2/3) at 1:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (2/4) at 2:00

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

Surprise Music Performance

The UCLA Gluck Near East Trio will be stopping by for a performance on Saturday, February 11 at 3:00.  

The Gluck Near East Trio performs music of the Arab world, North Africa, Turkey, Central Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe. Their extensive repertoire features various instrumental and vocal genres that combine traditional and contemporary elements while using a variety of Western and non-Western musical instruments.

The performance immediately follows our already scheduled African-American Read Aloud (http://arroyoseco5.blogspot.com/2017/01/february-is-african-american-heritage.html) so come at 2:00 for that and stay for the music.

Library Events in February…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library has some interesting events planned in February.  As always, 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:

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2/3 from 1:00-4:00
LA OIC Boot Camp
This program puts low cost computers in the hands of low income people.  This session is in English. Call or drop by to sign up.

2/5 at 3:00
Make a Charm for Your Valentine
Join us to make a lovely shrinky-dink charm for your Valentine, for a friend, or for yourself.  Be as creative as you can be.

2/6 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Building Block Challenge
Come show us what you can make.

2/7 @ 6:00
Club de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

2/11 @ 2:00
African-American Read Aloud
Join us as we celebrate African-American Heritage Month by reading aloud the short stories & poetry of some noted African-American authors and then discussing what we have read.

2/11 @ 3:00
UCLA Gluck Near East Trio
Join us for an afternoon of music celebrating the Near East.  Everyone is welcome.

2/13 from 2:00-4:00
LA DOT Tap Card Information Session
Stop by with questions for the LA Department of Transportation.  Get your TAP card reloaded while you’re here.

2/13 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Storytime & Craft
Join us for a special storytime & craft celebrating African-American Heritage Month.

2/14 @ 3:00
Teen Program
Join us for a fun activity of some kind.

2/18 from 10:30-2:30
SAT Practice Test
Join us for a full SAT practice test.  See how you will do on the real thing and get feedback about areas where you might need to do some work.

2/21 @ 6:00
Club de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

2/25 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a lively discussion of The Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee.

2/26 @ 3:00
Interview Practice Session
Are you a nervous mess when facing an interview? Not sure what to say to certain types of questions? Join us for an interview practice session.

2/27 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Building Block Challenge
What can you make from building blocks? Come impress us with your skills.

- - - - - - - - - -

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

Toddler Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 10:30 
Little Ones’ 3 and under & their grownups are invited to join us for stories, music, & games. (No session 2/8)

Baby Storytime - - - Thursdays at 10:30 
Bounces, rhymes and songs for prewalkers (age 0-12 months) and their caregivers.  (No session on 2/9)

STAR Volunteer Readers - - - Available on Wednesdays at 3:00, on Thursdays at 3:00, & on Saturdays at 2:00
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.

February is African-American Heritage Month….

You’ve probably noticed that LAPL celebrates a number of heritage months during the course of the year.  The first one we encounter each year is February as African-American Heritage Month.  During the month you will encounter programming & displays at the various LAPL branches that highlight different aspects of the African-American experience.  

Here at the Arroyo Seco Branch we are having a Read Aloud with Discussion to Follow.  A Read Aloud is a modified take on a book club where the group gathers together to take turns reading a selection aloud and then participates in a thoughtful discussion of what was read.  For our African-American Read Aloud we are going to read a selection of poetry and short stories from the likes of Robert Hayden, Maya Angelou, W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, and Alice Walker.  The event will take place on February 11 at 2:00 and we welcome all participants so please plan on joining us.

If you’d like to explore the programming opportunities to celebrate African-American Heritage Month available at other branches in the system let me direct you to the LAPL’s searchable Calendar of Events (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar).  If you select “Heritage Month – African-American” from the Categories drop down menu you will find only those programs that are applicable.

Events for the Week of January 22….

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Make it Monday features a building block challenge on Monday (1/23) at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/25) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (1/26) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/27) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (1/28) at 2:00
• Arroyo Book Club meets 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

The Brimstone Deception

Lisa Shearin brings us pleasant urban fantasy in The Brimstone Deception, book 3 of the SPI Files series.  The premise of her series is that creatures of fantasy are real it's just that people can’t see them and, when they do encounter them, rationalize it away.  Because creatures of fantasy can be quite evil with plots to bring about certain doom there needs to be a police force that guards against them.  Our heroine is a human member of just such a police force.  A seer, she is able to see past spells and glamour so she knows what’s what and who’s who.  In this book a drug is being pushed that allows everyday humans to see past glamours as well, which naturally drives them crazy.  The SPI agency starts after the drug business only to find that it is just the tip of the iceberg.   Although it is the third of the series it can be read alone.  

All in all a book/series I would recommend to lovers of the genre.

Websites of (potential) interest….

Are you looking for books by lexile reading levels for some reason? If so you’ll want to check out https://www.lexile.com/.  Here you will find a book matcher that produces lists by reading level while allowing filtering options to help you find just the right book interest wise at just the right level lexile reading level wise.  You can also search by book to find out just what level it is.  Take a look at it and see if it matches your needs.

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question is what does the egg symbolize to Christians?

Events for the Week of January 15….

The library will be closed on Monday, January 16 for Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday.  Events going on at the library during the rest of the week include…

• Lectores meeting on Tuesday (1/17) at 6:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/18) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (1/19) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/20) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (1/21) at 2:00

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

The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss

Max Wirestone brings us a quirky heroine in The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss.  Dahlia, unemployed for more than a year, living with a truly eccentric friend, mourning the end of relationship is approached by a man who wants to hire her to find a stolen spear.   Not I hasten to add a real life spear but rather a digital spear that is part of a MMORPG called Kingdoms of Zoth.  Shortly thereafter Jonah, the client, is killed by an actual replica of the digital spear and Dahlia begins to hunt a murderer.  

The book is very amusing and peopled by some truly eccentric characters.  I caught myself laughing out loud as I read it.  Recommended for those who enjoy oddball books with a light sprinkling of mystery.

Events for the Week of January 8….

Events going on at the library the week include…

• LA Department of Transportation TAP program on Monday (1/9) from 2:00-4:00
• Make it Monday featuring Color Science with real CalTech Scientists on Monday at 4:00
• Teen Program on Tuesday (1/10) at 3:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/11) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (1/12) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/13) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (1/14) at 2:00

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

This (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520334.pdf) 1/4/1970 article from the Highland Park News Herald & Journal, Sentinel titled “Elysian Slide Keeps Rolling through Time” discusses the landslides near Elysian park in 1969 & 1937 that caused damage, photographs are included.  Take a look.

January Electronic Resource of the Month

The January eResource of the Month is Hoopla Comics.  Hoopla is a digital streaming platform that allows patrons to access e-comics, e-books, e-audiobooks, and movies.  Fifteen comic book publishers provide access to their comics through Hoopla’s delivery service.  These publishers include the likes of DC Comics, Disney Comics, and Dark Horse.  You can use your computer or mobile device to stream or download up to 15 titles a month.  Each comic is available for a 3-week loan period and is returned automatically at the end of the period.

Hoopla is available at all Los Angeles Public Library locations, remotely from the LAPL’s website under the eMedia link (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/e-media), or by downloading the HOOPLA app to your tablet or smartphone.   You will need an email address along with your Los Angeles Public Library card and PIN to set up a Hoopla account.

Inside of a Dog

Alexandra Horowitz gives us a detailed look at what dogs see, smell, and know in her book Inside of a Dog.  Horowitz, a cognitive scientist, keeps her examination of dogs tied to what we can really know --- scientifically.  Don’t worry, though, this is no purely dispassionate work, she keeps her own love of dogs front and center throughout the book.  

Horowitz takes us on a sense by sense tour of the umwelt (to quote the dictionary for those unfamiliar with this word: the world as it is experienced by a particular organism) of a dog. She then moves on to consider the mind of a dog, the social world of a dog, and tries to paint a picture of what the experience of just being a dog is like.  She attempts through all of this to only reference things that have resulted from studies of dogs, or where there have been no specific dog studies, studies of other animals.

The book is quite interesting and I would recommend it for anyone with a love of dogs or an interest in considering what the experience of being another creature might be like.