Trivia of the Month - Answer...

This month’s question was what is the VII amendment of the US Constitution?  The VII amendment addresses your right to trial by jury and reads:

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of a trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

The question and its answer were found on p. 55 of The Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of California.  The book was published by the California Legislature Assembly during the 2001-2002 session.

Library Events in December…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library's Winter Reading Challenge runs from December 14 through January 14.  Drop by the branch to sign up or sign yourself up online, complete the challenge task, & win prizes.

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

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12/2 @ 12:40
Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade
March in the parade with us.  We will meet in the library parking lot at 12:40 and then move to the parade staging area.

12/3 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Express your creativity and your love of astronomy by making cosmic art.

12/4 @ 6:00
Círculo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

12/6 @ 4:00
Zine Workshop
Join us and work on your own personal Zine in this all-ages workshop.

12/8 @ 3:00
Make a Tiny Terrarium
Learn about plants, succulents in particular, and make your own tiny terrarium to take home.

12/10 from 2:30-4:30
LA DOT Tap Information Table
Ask questions about TAP or just get your card refilled.

12/10 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Join us for some construction fun.

12/12 @ 4:00
Teen Henna
Teens join us to learn about henna & henna design and get a henna design of your own applied.

12/14 @ 4:00
Community Birthday Party
Join us as we celebrate those who had a birthday in November or December.

12/15 @ 9:30
Walk Highland Park
Get a bit of exercise while exploring the neighborhood.

12/15 @ 3:00
Wrestling Shrinky-Dinks
Create a pin, amulet, or refrigerator magnet all on a wrestling theme.

12/17 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Join us for some creative fun.

12/18 @ 6:00
Círculo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

12/22 @ 1:30
Caroling with Holiday Lights
Join us for some a capella holiday caroling by a local group of singers.

12/22 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a discussion of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

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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 12/4)

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 12/26)

LAPD Read Along - - - Tuesdays at 3:00
Officers from the LAPD read favorite stories with kids.

STAR Volunteer Readers - - - Available on Tuesdays at 3:30, Wednesdays at 3:00, and Thursdays at 3:00.
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. 

Walk in Tutoring - - -  Mondays from 6:30-7:30 and Thursdays from 6:00-7:30
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.

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. 

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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…

Today’s little nugget of historical goodness is a 1952 report about Highland Park written by local resident Helen Gorian.  It includes a general background, a history of the area, a look at the oldest remaining businesses as well as current businesses, the arroyo, the local newspapers, local industries, transportation, local residences, churches, places to visit, and schools.  All in all a comprehensive portrait of the community.

Find the report here: http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/11/520734.pdf 

Arroyo Book Club December Pick….

As has recently become a tradition the Arroyo Book Club will be reading one of William Shakespeare’s play for our December meeting.  This time around we will be enjoying The Merchant of Venice.  

A number of years ago PBS had a program entitled In Search of Shakespeare.  The website page they made in conjunction with the program had synopses for the plays that have always tickled my funny bone.  So here is the one they made for The Merchant of Venice…

It was a simple deal... that went badly wrong. Repay a loan within three months or pay a horrific forfeit. But the moneylender also has a debt to repay – a debt of hate. Now the deal has changed, and money is not enough to heal the wounds of past enmity.

Shylock shall have his pound of flesh.

Rated NC-17. Psychological drama. Contains scenes of racial stereotyping already.

Stop by the library for a copy of the play and make plans to join us for discussion on December 22 at 3:00.

Events for the Week of November 25….

Events going on at the library during the week include: 

Monday – 11/26
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Explore Ice Planets at 4:00
Walk in Tutoring for Adults from 6:30-7:30

Tuesday – 11/27
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30

Wednesday – 11/28
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 11/29
STAR Reader at 3:00
Walk-in-Tutoring for Adults from 6:00-7:30

Friday – 11/30
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

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

Make your own…. Tiny Terrarium

Join us for a workshop on December 8 at 3:00 and learn about plants, specifically succulents. Then make your own tiny plant environment in a jar to take home.  A chance to get your hands dirty and come away with a bit of nature all your own. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy a day of food and family.... as well as this image of a magnificent turkey taken from LAPL's photo collection.  The picture is dated 1954.

NELA Holiday Parade

The Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade will march down Figueroa Street from about where the library lives (York Blvd) to Sycamore Park on Sunday, December 2nd.   The library will be participating and we invite you (& your family & friends) to join us.  Those daring souls who wish to join us in costume should feel free to go all out.  We will meet up in the Library parking lot at 11:40 on the second before moving to the parade staging ground.

Please get in touch if you plan to join us so we can know to expect you.  Call us at 323-255-0537, email us at ayosco@lapl.org or drop by and sign up in person.  The more the merrier so pass along word of the event to everyone you know who might be interested.

Events for the Week of November 18….

The library will be closed Thursday & Friday this week for Thanksgiving.  Events going on at the library during the remainder of the week include: 

Monday – 11/19
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Filtered Light Art at 4:00
Walk in Tutoring for Adults from 6:30-7:30

Tuesday – 11/20
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30
Círculo de Lectores at 6:00

Wednesday – 11/21
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Saturday – 11/24
Arroyo Book Club meets 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

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question is trivia in the sense of how much do you remember of what you learned in school but it’s nature is not at all trivial.  Without looking, what is the VII amendment of the US Constitution?

The Prey of Gods

Nicky Drayden’s The Prey of Gods is a fascinating story that combines the reawakening of some uber-powerful beings (“gods” if you will) with arising AI, some problematic genetic engineering, and an epidemic of a powerful new hallucinogenic drug.  With Port Elizabeth, South Africa (& probably the world) on the brink of absolute disaster four disparate people work together to solve things. 

The book is a bit slow to get into and ventures far into the realm of magical realism but once you’re hooked it’s impossible to put down.  I would recommend it to anyone with a taste for SF who enjoys a fascinating possible future and doesn’t mind if there’s a bit of the truly improbable mixed into the story.

Events for the Week of November 11….

The library will be closed three days this week.  We are closed on SUNDAY because it is Veteran’s Day, we are closed on MONDAY also because of Veteran’s Day, and we are closed on WEDNESDAY because of staff development day. Events going on at the library during the parts of the week we’re open include:

Tuesday – 11/13
Teen program featuring balloons & construction at 3:00
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30

Thursday – 11/15
STAR Reader at 3:00
Walk-in-Tutoring for Adults from 6:00-7:30

Friday – 11/16
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 11/17
Walk Highland Park at 9:30
Workers’ Comp Essentials workshop at 1:30
Chavez Wrestling Art program 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….

Check out this article, Recall early history of fire station here - when horses pulled wagons, for a nice description of the Old Fire Station 12.  Old Fire Station 12 stood where our current 5921 N Figueroa station now stands.  The article includes a picture of the original station. 

November’s Electronic Resource of the Month…

The Electronic Resource of the Month for November is Opposing Viewpoints in Context.  Opposing Viewpoints provides resources on major social and political issues.  It provides pro and con arguments with contextual information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues drawn from news articles, journals, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.  Perfect for students with a social studies paper or an interest in debate. 

Find the Opposing Views database on the library’s Research & Homework page (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#O).  You will need your library card number & pin if you are accessing the database from a non-library computer.  Once on the database you can browse through suggested topic categories or type in what you are looking for.

Events for the Week of November 4….

Events going on at the library during the week include: 

Sunday – 11/4
Sunday Afternoon at the Movies at 3:00

Monday – 11/5
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Chickasaw Astronaut John Herrington Story with Craft at 4:00
Walk in Tutoring for Adults from 6:30-7:30

Tuesday – 11/6
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30
Círculo de Lectores at 6:00

Wednesday – 11/7
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 11/8
STAR Reader at 3:00
Walk-in-Tutoring for Adults from 6:00-7:30

Friday – 11/9
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 11/10
Financial Empowerment Workshop brought to us by the HHPNC at 10:00

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

Workers’ Comp Essentials

Whether you are embroiled in a workers’ compensation case or just want to be prepared in case something ever happens to you at work swing by for a short seminar all about the basics of Workers’ Compensation on November 17 at 1:30.  This workshop will be presented by local attorney Armen Yedalyan, Esq. (State Bar No. 282492 / www.yedalyanlaw.com).  Bring your questions!