Trivia of the Month Answer...

This month’s question came to us from the world of sports.  Native Americans originated the sport we call Lacrosse.  How far apart could the goals be in their original game?  The answer, interestingly enough, is 15 miles!

The question, and answer, came from p. 179 of The Sports Rules Book by Thomas Hanlon.  The book was published by Human Kinetics in 1998

Special Summer Reading Storytime

Join us on Thursday at 10:00 for a special Summer Reading Storytime featuring a guest from the Dodgers.

Arroyo Book Club’s August Pick…

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading Lab Girl by Hope Jahren for our August meeting.  This, per Amazon, is “An illuminating debut memoir of a woman in science; a moving portrait of a longtime friendship; and a stunningly fresh look at plants that will forever change how you see the natural world.”

So pick up a copy, explore a life lived in science, and join us for discussion on August 25 at 3:00.

Events for the Week of July 29….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (7/30) at 10:00
• Enjoy a Magic Show with Allen Oshiro on Monday at 4:00
• Baby Storytime on Tuesday (7/31) at 10:30
• Henna Tattoo Program on Tuesday at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (8/1) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Dodger’s Storytime Event on Thursday (8/2) at 10:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Walk-in Tutoring (for Adults) on Thursday from 5:30-7:30
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (8/3) at 3:30
• Tai Chi on Saturday (8/4) at 10:00
• 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 History...

Take a look at this 64-page booklet published in 1928 which details a history of all of LAPL’s branches to that date.  Photos of the branches are included. Really quite fascinating.

Library Events in August…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

As always there are plenty of interesting activities going on at the library.  Let me give you a run down so you can plan ahead.  Let’s start with the non-repeating events:

- - - - - - - - - - 
8/2 @ 10:00
Dodger Storytime
Storytime courtesy of the Dodgers.

8/2 from 5:30 to 7:30
Walk in Tutoring
Free tutoring for adults (19+). Stop by on a first come first served basis for tutoring in English reading, writing, and conversation skills as well as help with your computer or cell-phone.

8/4 @ 10:00
Tai Chi
De-Stress from your week with a tai chi session taught by our longtime volunteer.

8/6 @ 4:00
Building Blocks Club
What can you build?

8/7 @ 4:00
Teen Program
Join us for some teen tastic fun.

8/7 @ 6:00
Circulo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

8/11 @ 10:00
Tai Chi
De-Stress from your week with a tai chi session taught by our longtime volunteer.  Last one of the summer.

8/13 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.

8/13 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Create your own family journal.

8/16 from 5:30 to 7:30
Walk in Tutoring
Free tutoring for adults (19+). Stop by on a first come first served basis for tutoring in English reading, writing, and conversation skills as well as help with your computer or cell-phone.

8/18 @ 9:30
Walk Highland Park
Join us for a bit of exercise, some congenial company, and a chance to explore the sights of Highland Park.

8/20 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Make yourself some melted crayon art.

8/21 @ 6:00
Circulo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

8/25 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a lively discussion of Lab Girl by Jahren.  

8/26 @ 3:00
Sunday at the Movies
Join us for the screening of an 80’s era comedy spoof.

8/27 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Today we will have a minecraft workshop.  Registration is required.

8/30 from 5:30 to 7:30
Walk in Tutoring
Free tutoring for adults (19+). Stop by on a first come first served basis for tutoring in English reading, writing, and conversation skills as well as help with your computer or cell-phone.

- - - - - - - - - -

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

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

Baby Storytime - - - Tuesdays at 10:30
Stories, songs, and rhymes await babies up to 18 months. (no session on 8/14)

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 7/15).

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.

Zine Workshop

We are having a Zine Workshop this Thursday at 4:00.  Come by and exercise your creativity by designing a zine of your own.

Events for the Week of July 22….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (7/23) at 10:00
• Meet children’s book illustrator Courtenay Fletcher on Monday at 4:00
• Baby Storytime on Tuesday (7/24) at 10:30
• Win prizes playing lotería on Tuesday at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (7/25) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (7/26) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (7/27) at 3:30
• Tai Chi on Saturday (7/28) at 10:00
• STAR Reader on Saturday 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 End of the Day

Claire North is an author I’ve long admired for her sheer inventiveness.  Every book she writes has a plot that is completely original, totally interesting, and very different from each of her previous books.  In The End of the Day we meet Charlie who is the harbinger of Death (as an aside I’ve developed a bit of love for that word harbinger from reading this --- it is a very fun word to just say out loud).  Charlie is the one who goes before Death, sometimes as a courtesy sometimes with a warning.  Charlie in other words is a witness of the living and of the ideas of the living. 

While the book is fascinating it is also depressing.  Charlie is witnessing, and sharing with us, some pretty strong evidence about the amazing amount of inhumanity currently extant in the world and raising the strongly implied possibility that he is witnessing the end of all (human) life not just the end of some particular lives.  The book really gets at the current zeitgeist vis a vis global warming, corrosive political ideology, and humanitarian crises of every description.

Charlie is amazingly inarticulate for the character that is supposed to be telling us what is going on and, in fact, the whole book uses a sort of half thought fractured style of exposition that leaves the reader having to fill in a lot of the details.  This is definitely a book that will read very differently to each reader but I would highly recommend it.  Check it out and then go find North’s other books.

60 Quick Knitted Toys

If you like to knit and you have a soft spot for toys of the stuffed variety then you don’t want to miss 60 Quick Knitted Toys.  The book is stuffed with imaginative patterns for truly adorable stuffed animals that are sure to be favorites of anyone fortunate enough to come into possession of one.  My favorite was the Triceratops but the book also includes an elephant, the cutest dragon, an argyle bear, a cuddly owl, a lazy llama, and so many more.

If you don’t knit but know someone who does grab the book and pass it along… maybe they’ll make you something.  I really like the toys in this book and recommend it to anyone with an interest in knitting.

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question comes to us from the world of sports.  Native Americans originated the sport we call Lacrosse.  How far apart could the goals be in their original game?

Events for the Week of July 15….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (7/16) at 10:00
• Harry Potter Party! on Monday at 4:00
• Baby Storytime on Tuesday (7/17) at 10:30
• Make something beautiful on Tuesday at 4:00
• Círculo de Lectores on Tuesday at 6:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (7/18) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (7/19) at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (7/20) at 3:30
• Tai Chi on Saturday (7/21) at 10:00
• 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

Guitar Performance on July 14...

As previously announced we are having a performance by Taro Wayama and David Lee Ruest this Saturday, July 14, at 3:00.  Let me whet your appetite a bit by providing some information about the musicians and their planned program of music.

First the musicians...

Taro Wayama is a Japanese born guitarist/composer. He is a winner of numerous competitions such as 1st place in the 2003 Aron Green/American String Teachers Association Guitar Competition and 2nd place in the Thailand International Guitar Competition.  As a composer he received “Best Original Score” at the Los Angeles Movie Awards for an independent film, “Anne Jennings”. 
Taro is an active soloist and a chamber musician. He has performed in Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Canada, China, Belgium and the US. He frequently collaborates with violin, clarinet, flute, voice and dancer performing music from Renaissance through 21st Century and Folk/World music.
Taro holds Masters and Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California where he studied with Pepe Romero, William Kannengiser, James Smith, Brian Head and Scott Tennant.
He has performed in number masterclasses by great guitarists such as Pepe Romero, David Leisner, Scott Tennant, Benjamin Verdery, Dusan Bogdanvic, Fabio Zanon, and William Kanengiser.

David Lee Ruest was born in South Korea and grew up in New York, NY.  He originally moved to California to join the first violin section of the Santa Barbara Symphony.  As a violist he has performed with the Pacific and San Diego Symphonies as a substitute section player.  He has also performed as a violinist with the Harrisburg, Annapolis, Baltimore, New Waest, Pasadena, and Long Beach Symphonies.  He has also given solo and chamber music recitals and performances in New York, Baltimore, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Los Angeles.  Most recently in the Summer of 2017 he has performed in Mexico City at the Teatro de la Danza and in Guadalajara at the Museo Jose Clemente Orozco.  David received a M.M. from UCLA, a B.M. from the Peabody Conservatory and a Diploma from the Juilliard Pre-College Division.  In addition to playing violin and viola he is a full time Real Estate Agent in Los Angeles.  In his free time he enjoys watching Korean Dramas and playing tennis.

And now their program...

Sonata in F major, op 1, no. 11  -- George Frideric Handel

Bordel 1900 from History of Tango  -- Astor Piazzolla                                                                                                              

Just Passing By  -- Billy Arcila/Taro Wayama

Sonatina, op 137, no. 1 -- Franz Shubert

Just Passing By -- Billy Arcila/Taro Wayama

Oblivion Astor  -- Piazzolla

Libertango

Londonderry Air Irish Traditional  -- Arr. Toru Takemitsu

Magic for Nothing

Seanan McGuire continues her InCryptid series with Magic for Nothing.  In this tale we switch our attention to the youngest of the Price children, Antimony.  The previous novel in the series had ended with Verity essentially declaring war on the Covenant of St. George so this novel picks up with Antimony having to pay the price of that action.  We follow her as she infiltrates the Covenant and is then sent on a mission to scope out a travelling carnival that is associated with a number of mysterious deaths.  Can she solve the mystery while keeping the Covenant in the dark as to who she really is and protecting the innocent carnival workers?  Find out.

The book was on par with the others of the series.  A quick, relatively light-hearted, urban fantasy.  It probably would help to be familiar with the world depicted in the series before picking up this volume though.  All in all I would recommend it.

Events for the Week of July 8….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

• Sunday at the Movies on Sunday (7/8) at 3:00
• Grupo de apoyo para la familia on Monday (7/9) at 10:00
• LA DOT Tap Information Table on Monday from 2:30-4:30
• Green Screen Adventures on Monday at 4:00
• Baby Storytime on Tuesday (7/10) at 10:30
• Make yourself some candy sushi on Tuesday at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (7/11) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (7/12) at 3:00
• Walk Highland Park Meeting on Friday (7/13) at 9:30
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday at 3:30
• Tai Chi on Saturday (7/14) at 10:00
• STAR Reader on Saturday at 2:00
• Guitar Concert 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

July’s eResource of the Month…

Do you have kids who have to work on school reports?  Is it too late to visit the library?  Don’t worry we’ve got you covered.  With your library card you can access the World Book online.  This is the world book encyclopedia that has been around since long before you yourself were a child and is updated each year.  Chock full of information it will help your child find just the information they need to write an excellent report.  

You can access the World Book Encyclopedia from any computer with your library card.  Start from the library’s Research & Homework Page (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#W) in the W section.

History of Highland Park…

This (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/11/520683.pdf) is a “48 page Pictorial and Feature Review…. Of the Women’s Organizations of the Communities of Northeast Los Angeles, what their activities mean to the social and cultural structure of Our Communities; with the spotlight on those women leaders who have contributed to the development of our special way of life.”  It was published on November 8, 1964 by Northeast Newspapers.  A fascinating look at a very different time (at least for women).