Trivia of the Month (& Answer)...

This month’s question was what color are the coolest stars? And the related what color are the hottest?  The coolest stars are red, the hottest stars glow blue.

The question (and answer) were found on p. 145 of Stars and Planets by Jay M. Pasachoff.  The book was published by Peterson Field Guides in 2000.

Emotional Freedom Workshop

Join us on Saturday, September 9 at 3:00 for a workshop.  Certified Hypnotherapist Frances O'Brien will teach you how to clear your mental blockages and achieve your goals using guided imagery and the Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping).

Come see what it is all about.

The Arroyo Book Club’s September Pick…

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd for their September meeting.  The book jacket describes the book as “a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world.”  The publisher says:

"The story follows Hetty "Handful" Grimke, a Charleston slave, and Sarah, the daughter of the wealthy Grimke family. The novel begins on Sarah's eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership over Handful, who is to be her handmaid. "The Invention of Wings" follows the next thirty-five years of their lives. Inspired in part by the historical figure of Sarah Grimke (a feminist, suffragist and, importantly, an abolitionist), Kidd allows herself to go beyond the record to flesh out the inner lives of all the characters, both real and imagined"

Pick up a copy from the library to see for yourself and then join us on September 23 at 3:00 for a discussion.

Events for the Week of August 27….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• A meeting of the Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (8/28) at 10:00
• Make it Monday will feature a building block challenge at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (8/30) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (8/31) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• LA OIC Computer Boot Camp on Friday (9/1) at 1:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (9/2) 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

Library Events in September…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library has some interesting events planned in September.  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:

- - - - - - - - - -
9/1 from 1:00-4:00
LA OIC Computer 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.

9/5 @ 6:00
Club de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

9/9 @ 3:00
Emotional Freedom Workshop
Come learn how to clear your mental blockages and achieve your goals using guided imagery and the Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping)

9/11 from 2:30-4:30
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.

9/11 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
This week’s program features a building block challenge.

9/12 @ 4:00
Teen Program
Join us for a fun activity just for teens.

9/18 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Ninja Party
Get ready for the LEGO®  Ninjago®  movie with fun books, activities and crafts featuring LEGO®  Ninjago®  characters!

9/19 @ 6:00
Club de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

9/23 @ 4:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a lively discussion of Sue Monk Kidd’s The Invention of Wings.

9/25 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Celebrate Hispanic heritage with a storytime and craft program.

- - - - - - - - - -

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

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

Toddler Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 10:30 
Little Ones’ 3 and under & their grownups are invited to join us for stories, music, & games.

STAR Volunteer Readers - - - Available on Wednesdays at 3:00, on Thursdays at 3:00, and 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.

History of Highland Park….

Wrangling over the extension of the 710 freeway has been going on for a very long time as evidenced by this file of articles (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/11/520739.pdf) from 1974 about a proposed westerly extension of the 710 that would have had it join up with the 110 right around York Avenue.  Take a look at the whole series for the advertisements & other articles that were included in the scanning of the principal articles on the topic of the freeway expansion.  All in all, quite interesting.

Events for the Week of August 20….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Make a Pinhole Projector Drop in Program on Sunday (8/20) from 3:00-4:00
• Eclipse Viewing Party on Monday (8/21) from 9:30-11:30
• A meeting of the Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday at 10:00
• Make it Monday will feature eclipse themed activites at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (8/23) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (8/24) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• August Community Birthday Party on Friday (8/25) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (8/26) 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

My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space

My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space is a collection of “slice of life” essays by Lisa Scottoline with the occasional essay from her daughter Francesca Scottoline Serritella.  The essays are all light hearted reflections on her daily life, her dogs & cats, her mother & daughter, a weird thing that caught her interest, and the like.  My no means a deep book, it is enjoyable and I would recommend it for people looking for a quick diversion.

Trivia of the Month...

In honor of this month’s solar eclipse we’ll take our question from the world of Astronomy.  What color are the coolest stars? What color are the hottest?

Events for the Week of August 13….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• A meeting of the Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (8/14) at 10:00
• LA DOT Tap Card Information Table on Monday from 2:30-4:30 (approx.)
• Make it Monday will feature Pinhole Projector construction in advance of the Eclipse at 4:00
• Lectores will meet on Tuesday (8/15) at 6:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (8/16) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime, in the Children’s Area, on Thursday (8/16) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (8/18) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (8/19) 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 Genius of Birds

In The Genius of Birds Jennifer Ackerman explores just that.  The book takes a look at the many extraordinary mental feats of birds from having an enormous repertoire of songs, to remembering where up to 30,000 seeds have been cached over many square miles, to constructing elaborate nests, to using & passing on tools, to precisely navigating thousands of miles.  As she looks at the many ways that birds use their brains she explains what the science is telling us about what these talents mean with respect to birds and overall intelligence.

This is a fascinating book.  Bird lovers will definitely want to pick it up and anyone interested in the question of non-human intelligence will also want to take a look.  I recommend it.

Britt-Marie Was Here

Let's talk about Frederick Backman’s Britt-Marie Was Here.  Backman has a knack for writing compelling stories about interesting and highly eccentric characters.  This book is no exception.  Here we meet Britt-Marie a 63 year old homemaker who has just left her cheating husband.  Britt-Marie is a very fixed in her ways sort of woman.  She takes a job in a down and out town where she meets a collection of children looking for a soccer coach, Somebody - who runs a number of businesses from one location, Sven - the local policeman, Bunk - the almost blind daughter of the former soccer coach, and a visiting rat.  Britt-Marie does not like soccer but takes on the job as coach and proceeds to change everyone’s life, her own included.

Although this book was not quite as good as his two earlier books it is nevertheless worth reading.  I would recommend it.  

Events for the Week of August 6….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• A meeting of the Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (8/7) at 10:00
• The kids’ reading program will feature Balloon Rockets on Monday at 4:00
• STAR Reader on Wednesday (8/9) at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (8/10) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (8/11) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (8/12) 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.

August’s eResource of the Month

The eResource of the Month for August is “Libby” the mobile app from OverDrive.  OverDrive is our principal source of electronic books, audiobooks, and streaming video.  OverDrive can always be accessed from your computer via the library’s e-media page, http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/e-media, using your library card and PIN.  

Libby is designed to allow you easy, intuitive access to overdrive via your Android, iOS, or Windows 10 device.  It offers a simplified borrowing and downloading process, one unified bookshelf that automatically displays your loans and holds, and the option to download titles for offline reading or stream them to save space.

If you haven’t already started with the ease and convenience of checking out your eResources let me suggest you take the opportunity to get started now by downloading and exploring “Libby”.  

Have questions or need assistance getting started? Please feel free to swing by the library for some in person assistance from the librarian.