Trivia of the Month... Answer

This month’s question was where was the first discovery of gold in commercial quantities made?  The first such discovery was made in 1842 by Francisco López at Placerita Canyon.  Placerita Canyon is about 4 miles east of Newhall in the San Fernando Hills.

The question (& answer) were taken from p. 159 of Historic Spots in California by Hoover, Rensch, et al. The book was published in 1990 by Stanford University Press.

The Arroyo Book Club’s February Pick

The Arroyo Book Club will read Tim Wu’s book The Master Switch for our February meeting.  David Siegfried says the following about the book in his review:

A veteran of Silicon Valley and professor at Columbia University, Wu is an author and policy advocate best known for coining the term net neutrality. Although the Internet has created a world of openness and access unprecedented in human history, Wu is quick to point out that the early phases of telephony, film, and radio offered similar opportunities for the hobbyist, inventor, and creative individual, only to be centralized and controlled by corporate interests, monopolized, broken into smaller entities, and then reconsolidated. Wu calls this the Cycle, and nowhere is it more exemplary than in the telecommunications industry. The question Wu raises is whether the Internet is different, or whether we are merely in the early open phase of a technology that is to be usurped and controlled by profiteering interests. Central in the power struggle is the difference between the way Apple Computer and Google treat content, with Apple attempting to control the user experience with slick products while Google endeavors to democratize content, giving the user choice and openness. This is an essential look at the directions that personal computing could be headed depending on which policies and worldviews come to dominate control over the Internet.

The general topic seems particularly timely what with recent decisions affecting net neutrality.  Pick up a copy of the book the next time you visit the library and join us to share your thoughts on February 24 at 3:00.

Events for the Week of January 28….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (1/29) at 10:00
• Make it Monday featuring bubble wrap art on Monday at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/31) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (2/1) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (2/2) at 3:30
• PSAT Practice Test on Saturday (2/3) from 10:00-1:00
• STAR Reader on Saturday 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 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:

- - - - - - - - - - 

2/3 @ 10:00
PSAT Practice Test
Get a jump on doing well on your PSAT by taking a practice test first.  Sign up at Information Desk.

2/4 @ 3:00
Design for 3D Printing
Join us and learn how to design and create small objects that can be 3D printed.

2/5 @ 4:00
Eric Carle Storytime
Celebrate children’s author Eric Carle with a special themed storytime.

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

2/10 from 9:30-12:30
VITA Tax Assistance
The good folks from VITA offer Free Income Tax Preparation & Filing for those who qualify. Find more details: http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/vita-free-income-tax-preparation-filing-3

2/10 @ 3:00
Design for 3D Printing
Join us and learn how to design and create small objects that can be 3D printed.

2/12 from 2:00-4:00
LA DOT TAP Information Table
Questions about the transit system and TAP cards? Want to fill up your card? Swing by and talk to the folks from LA’s Department of Public Transportation.

2/12 @ 4:00
Valentine’s Day Craft
Join us and make something for your special Valentine.

2/13 @ 3:00
Teen Program
Join us for a teentastic program.

2/17 @ 2:00
African-American Music Celebration
Come join us as we use Freegal’s streaming service to enjoy a wide selection of African American music.

2/17 @ 3:00
Design for 3D Printing
Join us and learn how to design and create small objects that can be 3D printed.

2/20 @ 6:00
Circulo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

2/21 @ 6:00
Design for 3D Printing
Join us and learn how to design and create small objects that can be 3D printed.

2/24 from 9:30-12:30
VITA Tax Assistance
The good folks from VITA offer Free Income Tax Preparation & Filing for those who qualify. Find more details: http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/vita-free-income-tax-preparation-filing-3

2/24 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a discussion of Tim Wu’s The Master Switch.

2/26 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Building Blocks Club
Come show us what you can build.

- - - - - - - - - -

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. (No session on 2/7)

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.

Murder at the House of Rooster Happiness

In Murder at the House of Rooster Happiness David Casarett introduces us to Ladarat Patalung a Nurse Ethicist at a hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Ladarat is busy preparing for an upcoming government inspection as well as dealing with the sad case of a pair of newly-wed Americans involved in an elephant accident when she is approached by a local police officer for help.  Apparently a woman had dropped her husband off at the emergency room, already dead, took the death certificate and departed.  What was strange was the guard on duty could have sworn he saw the same woman, several months earlier, dropping off a different dead husband.  Ladarat is intrigued by the idea of being a detective and is soon on the case.

I found the book quite fascinating because of the thorough (and I hope accurate) portrayal of Thai life and culture that was folded into the story.  The story itself was quite interesting and Ladarat and her fellow characters were engaging.  I am already looking forward to the second title in this series.  Recommended.

Events for the Week of January 21….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (1/22) at 10:00
• Make it Monday features a building block challenge on Monday at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/24) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (1/25) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/26) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (1/27) 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

Highland Park History...

This newspaper article (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520259.pdf) tells the tale of a restaurant that used to be just over the bridge where York becomes Pasadena called the Old Virginia, focusing on its previous history as an Ostrich Farm.  The article is from May 7, 1964.  Check out the article for its interesting details about that ostrich farm.

VITA Free Income Tax Preparation & Filing

We are very pleased that VITA will be using our branch this year to help people prepare and file their income tax for free.  The volunteers will be available every other Saturday beginning February 10 and ending April 7 from 9:30 to 12:30 to help people on a first come first served basis.  

--- The specific dates are: February 10 & 24 --- March 10 & 24 --- and April 7.

The tax forms they prepare are the Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) and CA Form 540 (California Resident Income). This service is offered to those whose household income limit is approximately $54,000 gross income. Both spouses must be present for joint returns.  

You will need to bring some things with you.  Specifically….

• A valid CA Driver’s License, ID, or Passport
• Social Security Numbers or ITINs for the Taxpayer, spouse and dependents
• Birth Dates for the Taxpayer, spouse, and dependents (month, date, and year)
• Tax Documents (Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC, and all other tax documents)
• Blank “voided” check for direct deposit of refund

If this applies to you, also bring:

• All Forms 1095, Health Form Statements
• California Renters’ Credit - Landlord’s name, address, and phone number
• Day Care Providers Information, including total amount paid for day care per child, day care provider’s name, address, phone number, and tax ID number
• Total Education Expenses (books, laptops, etc.)

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question… where was the first discovery of gold in commercial quantities made in California?

Events for the Week of January 14….

The library will be closed on January 15 for Martin Luther King Jr Day.  Events going on at the library during the rest of the week include:

• Teen Program on Tuesday (1/16) at 3:00
• Circulo de Lectores on Tuesday at 6:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/17) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (1/18) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/19) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (1/20) 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

Her Nightly Embrace

Her Nightly Embrace by Adi Tantimedh introduces PI Ravi Chandra Singh and golden Sentinels, the detective agency he works for.  Ravi is a former secondary school teacher who was recommended to the agency by an old friend.  With a reputation as a child of Kali, i.e. someone who attracts chaos, Ravi is soon enmeshed in a series of fascinating cases.  From a politician who is on the verge of a breakdown because his dead girlfriend is sleeping with him, to an author who wants revenge on the hordes of Internet trolls who are hounding her, to a girl running away from an arranged marriage Ravi and his co-workers find solutions.

This is an interesting book peopled with unusual characters.  Recommended for those who like a good mystery accompanied by many different degrees of eccentricity.

Design for 3D Printing

We’ve managed to borrow a 3D printer for the month of February and so will be having a series of classes focusing on how to use a freely available online design program to create small objects that can be printed.  The focus of the classes will be on learning how to create and manipulate the thing you are picturing and the bonus is that you will get to print out the result to see how you did.

The classes will be offered on:

• Sunday, February 4 at 3:00
• Saturday, February 10 at 3:00
• Saturday, February 17 at 3:00
• Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00

Come to one class for the basics or come to all the classes and set yourself increasingly complex challenges as you progress. 

Call the library at 323-255-0537 or stop by the Information Desk the next time you’re in to sign up.

Events for the Week of January 7….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (1/8) at 10:00
• LA DOT Tap Information Table on Monday from 2:30-4:30
• Gis Bac Food Demo on Monday at 4:00
• My Own Loteria on Tuesday (1/9) at 3:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/10) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (1/11) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/12) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (1/13) 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 Word Detective

The Word Detective is the memoir of former editor of the Oxford English Dictionary John Simpson and it is a fascinating read.  Simpson began working for the OED in 1976 and remained with them until 2013.  During his career he watched the OED move from being a moribund set of books to being a dynamic computer database.  The book describes this transition and explores the set of bells and whistles added to the field of language research by computer searchable text.  

While the book includes bits of Simpson’s personal life the primary focus is his work life.  It provides a picture of what a dictionary editor does and makes periodic aside investigations of individual English words.  Simpson loved his job and loves the English language and the book celebrates both.  Recommended for lovers of words.

January’s eResource of the Month…

If you have a car and like doing your own repair work…

Or 

If you’d like to know enough to understand what the mechanic is doing ….

Or

If you’d like to know what an anticipated repair is going to cost before you head into to see your mechanic….

Then January’s eResource is the tool you are looking for.  January’s eResource of the Month is the Chilton Library.  The Chilton Library provides online access to repair, maintenance, specification tables and service information on thousands of domestic and imported models including cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs from 1940 to the present.  Each article includes labor estimations, step-by-step instructions, wiring diagrams, troubleshooting and diagnostic information with close-up photos and illustrations.  

Find the Chilton Library on the Library’s website in the Research & Homework section (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#C).  You will need your library card to access it from your home computer.  Note that the Chilton Library description on the Research & Homework page includes a link to a video tutorial to provide you with additional assistance in making the most of this tool.