Trivia of the Month (Answer)...

This month’s question was what is a hex sign?  To quote my source:

A hex sign is an emblem painted on a barn, especially in the regions of southeastern Pennsylvania settled by German immigrants.  Usually round, with colorful, simple floral and geometric motifs, they are said to protect farm animals from misfortunes resulting from witches’ spells and especially from the evil eye.

The question (and answer) were found on p. 427 of The Encyclopedia of World Religions.  The book was published in 1999 by Merriam-Webster.

Library Events in March…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library has some interesting events planned in March.  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:

- - - - - - - - - -
3/2 from 9:30-1:30
VITA Tax Prep
Have a professional do your taxes for free. First come first served. There are income limits so check with branch to make sure you qualify.

3/3 @ 3:00
Sunday at the Movies
Join us for a classic heist film --- The Killing

3/4 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Join us for a building block challenge.

3/5 @ 6:00
Círculo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

3/7 @ 4:00
Zine Workshop
Join us and work on your own personal Zine in this all-ages workshop.

3/9 from 9:30-1:30
VITA Tax Prep
Have a professional do your taxes for free. First come first served. There are income limits so check with branch to make sure you qualify.

3/11 from 2:30-4:30
LA DOT Tap Info Table
Ask questions about TAP or just get your card refilled.

3/11 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Today features all the fun of Balloonacy.

3/16 from 9:30-1:30
VITA Tax Prep
Have a professional do your taxes for free. First come first served. There are income limits so check with branch to make sure you qualify.

3/18 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Join us for a Neighborhood Science program

3/19 @ 6:00
Círculo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

3/23 from 9:30-1:30
VITA Tax Prep
Have a professional do your taxes for free. First come first served. There are income limits so check with branch to make sure you qualify.

3/23 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a discussion of The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu, a Big Read book.

3/30 from 9:30-1:30
VITA Tax Prep
Have a professional do your taxes for free. First come first served. There are income limits so check with branch to make sure you qualify.

3/30 at 2:00
Workers’ Comp Essentials
Whether you’re embroiled in a claim or just want to be prepared for the worst join us to learn the basics about workers’ compensation claims.

3/31 at 3:00
Sunday Afternoon Movie
Join us for a fun film.

- - - - - - - - - -

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.

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 3/20)

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, Thursdays at 3:00, and 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.

Arroyo Book Club March Pick (NEA Big Read again)

This year the Arroyo Book Club will once again be participating in NEA’s Big Read program.  This year the book we will be reading is The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu.  Let’s turn to what the NEA has to say about this book:

Like the protagonist of this 2007 debut novel, MacArthur Foundation Fellow Dinaw Mengestu came to the United States from Ethiopia, fleeing with his family after the Communist Revolution in 1974, which took the life of his uncle. Called “a great African novel, a great Washington novel and a great American novel” (The New York Times Book Review), The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears alternates between the present and the past to tell the story of a lonely Ethiopian shopkeeper in a D.C. neighborhood undergoing gentrification. “Almost every page reminds us that ‘departure’ and ‘arrival’ are deceptively decisive words” (The New York Times). Mengestu “belongs to that special group of American voices produced by global upheavals and international, if sometimes forced, migrations,” writes the Los Angeles Times. His “assured prose and haunting set pieces … are heartrending and indelible” (Publishers Weekly).

Visit the NEA’s webpage about this book to find background information about the book and its author as well as discussion questions and related activities.  The web page in question is here: https://www.arts.gov/national-initiatives/nea-big-read/the-beautiful-things-that-heaven-bears

As always a copy of the book will be yours to keep (while supplies last) so stop by the information desk to pick up the book and make plans to join us for discussion on March 23 at 3:00.

Events for the Week of February 24….

Events going on at the library during the week include: 

Monday – 2/25
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Citizen Science at 4:00

Tuesday – 2/26
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30

Wednesday – 2/27
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 2/28
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 3/1
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 3/2
VITA Tax Prep from 9:30 to 1:00
STAR Reader 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 (or in this case Eagle Rock)….

Check out this article from the HP News-Herald published on 9/10/1961 (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/11/520879.pdf).  In it a pioneer farmer reflects on her life in Eagle Rock in the late 1800’s.  It is a nice little reminiscence of the time and discusses ordinary life, school life, and the arrival of the Railroad.  A picture is included.

Her Beautiful Monster

Her Beautiful Monster continues the adventures of Adi Tantimedh’s detective Ravi Chandra Singh.  In this installment Ravi eventually finds himself in Los Angeles, in the middle of Santa Ana driven fires, and on the run with load of stolen guns.  Ravi, favored by Kali as a son of chaos, finds the Hindu gods still have him in their focus and are even a bit more actively involved in his life as he works his way out of trouble. 

The book works fine as a stand-alone but readers wanting the full picture will need to start with her Nightly Embrace (see 1/11/18 blog entry).  This book is essentially a mindless bit of entertainment.  Read it for amusement’s sake.

Events for the Week of February 17….

The Library will be closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day.  Events going on at the library during the remainder of the week include: 

Tuesday – 2/19
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30
Círculo de Lectores at 6:00

Wednesday – 2/20
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 2/21
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 2/22
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 2/23
VITA Tax Prep from 9:30 to 1:00
Ukulele Class at 1:30
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

Valentine’s Day

Need to inject a bit of romance into your Valentine’s Day?  Why not try a love poem.  Find hundreds of full text romantic poems using our LitFinder database. 

How to do this?  Start at the library’s web page, www.lapl.org, and click into our Research & Homework page, scrolling down to the L’s.

Click into LitFinder & choose “works search”.  Scroll down the resulting form and (1) select full text documents, (2) select poem from the “type of work” menu, (3) put “love” in the subject/theme box and (4) click search.  Of course, you can modify the search if you have a specific poem in mind or have a love who’d rather receive a poem about elephants.

...screen clips contain first few lines of poems in question...

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question is what is a hex sign?

History of Highland Park…

The article titled “Bears, Bandits and Bridges Highlight Arroyo Story” (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520274.pdf) is an article that appeared in the August 4, 1957 News Herald & Journal.  Written by Wilfrid Dellquest it paints a vivid picture of the early days of the Arroyo Seco.  Just check out the section titles: 

• Primeval Hunting Ground
• Hideout
• The Camels Were Coming
• The Bandit Vasquez
• Bears and Bulls
• Sin Comes to the Arroyo
• Bridges over the Arroyo

If these titles intrigue you, read the article.

Events for the Week of February 10….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

Monday – 2/11
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Caribbean Storytime at 4:00

Tuesday – 2/12
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
Teen Cupcake Decorating Program at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30

Wednesday – 2/13
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 2/14
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 2/15
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 2/16
VITA Tax Prep from 9:30 to 1:00
Ukulele Class at 1:30

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

A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived

Adam Rutherford takes us on a tour of our DNA and just what our DNA can tell us about the path our species has taken in the world in A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived.  In this fascinating book Rutherford explores how we came to be and takes a look at who we are now in language that is accessible to the non-scientist.

Pick up the book and learn some fascinating facts about just how interconnected we really are.  Recommended.

February eResource of the Month

Explore the history of the United States from the comfort of your own home with February’s eResource of the Month --- U.S. History in Context. This database provides an engaging online experience for those seeking contextual information on hundreds of the most significant people, events, and topics in U.S. history.  Topics range from the arrival of Vikings in North America to the first stirrings of the American Revolution and on through the Civil Rights movement, 9/11, and recent events.  You will find primary documents, original reference sources, newspaper/journal articles, images, videos, audio files, and links to vetted websites.

Find U.S. History in Context from the LAPL website’s Research & Homework page in the ‘U’ section (https://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#U).  You can access if from your home computer with your library card.

Whether you’ve a history paper to write or are just curious about the Teapot Dome Scandal check it out.  

If you need assistance getting started with this, or any database, stop by the library, our librarians will be happy to help you achieve mastery.

Events for the Week of February 3….

Events going on at the library during the week include:

Sunday – 2/3
Sunday Movie at 3:00

Monday – 2/4
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Building Blocks Club at 4:00
Walk-in-Tutoring for Adults from 6:30-7:30

Tuesday – 2/5
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
STAR Reader at 3:30
Círculo de Lectores at 6:00

Wednesday – 2/6
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 2/7
STAR Reader at 3:00
All Ages Create-A-Zine at 4:00
Walk-in-Tutoring for Adults from 6:00-7:30

Friday – 2/8
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 2/9
VITA Tax Prep from 9:30 to 1:00
Ukulele Class at 1:30

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