Trivia of the Month (Answer)

The question was what is cirage.  The answer is “a monochromatic painting in yellow."  Interesting.

The question (and answer) were found on p. 111 of The Dictionary of Interior Design by Martin Pegler.  The book was published by Crown Publishers in 1966.

Arroyo Book Club August Pick

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly for our August meeting.  The book, which has been made into a movie, tells the story of four of NASA’s human calculators. These four African American women were significant in the success of NASA’s space exploration.  Per the catalog description about the book:

Hidden Figures is the untold true story of the African-American female mathematicians, "colored computers," at NASA who provided the calculations that helped fuel some of America's greatest achievements in space, set against the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement.

Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Space Race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden-four African American women who participated in some of NASA's greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades as they faced challenges, forged alliances, and used their intellect to change their own lives, and their country's future. 

Feel inspired by the recent anniversary of the Moon landing and take a look some of the people behind that story with us this month. Stop by the library for a copy of the book and join us for discussion on August 24 at 3:00.

Summer Reading Challenge 2019 – Shrinky-Dinks

Shrinky-Dinks are a long standing tradition for our summer reading program so this year we will end with them.  Join us to make your own pins, magnets, or amulets from shrink-dink plastic.  Whether you’re a first timer or an old hand with shrinky-dinks you’ll have fun. 

So dig up the images you’d like to use and join us on 8/10 at 3:00.  This will be an all ages program so bring the family with you.

Library Events in August…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The Summer Reading Challenge winds down this month ending on the 10th.  It’s not too late to sign yourself & your family up.  If you’re already signed up report your progress, either in person or online, and then join us for any (or all) of the great programming that is going on throughout the month.   Let’s take a look at some of the things on schedule:

- - - - - - - - - -
8/1 @ 4:00
Create-a-Zine
Free workshop for all ages. Craft your own custom zine.

8/3 @ 10:00
Tai Chi
Increase your balance and flexibility and decrease your stress. Join us for an hour of tai chi.

8/3 @ 3:00
LA Made: Top Shelf Vocalists
Join us for a free performance of a cappella singing. Sure to be an auditory spectacle.

8/5 @ 4:00
Magic Wayne
It’s hard to beat a magic show. Join us for all the tricks and showmanship of Magic Wayne.

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

8/8 @ 4:00
Slime Program
Teens. Join us for good slime-y fun.

8/10 @ 10:00
Tai Chi
Increase your balance and flexibility and decrease your stress. Join us for an hour of tai chi.

8/10 @ 3:00
Shrinky-Dink Fun
Come make yourself a locker (or refrigerator) magnet out of shrink-dink plastic.

8/11 @ 3:00
Sunday Afternoon Movie
Join us for a showing of a classic Hitchcock comedy & beat the heat in our cool air conditioning.

8/12 from 2:30 - 4:30
LA DOT Tap Information Table
Questions about LA metro systems? Just want to refill your TAP card? Stop by.

8/12 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Join us for some good science based fun.

8/19 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Join us for some good science based fun.

8/20 @ 6:00
Círculo de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

8/24 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a discussion of Shetterly’s Hidden Figures.

8/26 @ 4:00
Make it Monday
Join us for some good science based fun.

8/31 @ 11:00
Smart Gardening Workshop
Learn the basics of backyard composting, water-wise gardening, worm composting, and edible gardening in this free workshop.

- - - - - - - - - -

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 program on 8/13)

Toddler Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 10:30 
Little Ones’ 3 and under & their grownups are invited to join us for stories, music, & games. (No program on 8/14)

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

STAR Volunteer Readers - - - 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.

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.

Events for the Week of July 21….

Sign up for summer reading (if you haven't already). You can sign yourself up with a visit to www.lapl.org/summer or swing by the library and have us do it for you. 

Then, check out the events going on at the library this week and join us:

Monday – 7/22
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Create your own puppet with us at 4:00

Tuesday – 7/23
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00

Wednesday – 7/24
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 7/25
STAR Reader at 3:00
Steel Drum Workshop at 4:00

Friday – 7/26
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 7/27
Tai Chi at 10:00
Arroyo Book Club 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

Summer Reading Challenge 2019 – LA Made

The library’s LA Made is a cultural programming series featuring free music, dance, theater, and conversations with local entertainers at libraries throughout the city.  This summer they will be bringing a performance by the Top Shelf Vocal A Cappella group to our branch. Enjoy a performance featuring modern, contemporary interpretations of popular music performed with only the human voice.

The program will take place on Saturday, August 3 at 3:00

Check out the library’s online event calendar for more LA Made programs at branches throughout the city.  Find the event calendar here: http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar.  Selecting LA Made from the Categories drop down box will limit your results to these programs.

History of Highland Park (& Area)…

If you’ve ever wondered about the origins and history of Hermon check out this 5/31/1986 article --- Free Methodists Helped Settle Hermon at the Turn of the Century by Greg Hart and Cecil Smidderks.  The article looks at the early days of Hermon and traces the impact of the church (Methodist), the local school, and the Los Angeles Seminary (located in Hermon) on the area’s development.

History of Highland Park….

This 11/28/1981 article by Roger Swanson discusses the history of the Highland Park Recreation Center.  Written as the original wood structure was about to be demolished, the article includes a photo of the original building as well as an artist’s rendering of the building that would replace it (the current rec center).  Tagged onto the end of the file you will find the notice of the dedication of the new building and a photo of that dedication ceremony. 

Link: http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520388.pdf

Trivia of the Month

This month we wonder what cirage is?

Events for the Week of July 14….

Sign up for summer reading (if you haven't already). You can sign yourself up with a visit to www.lapl.org/summer or swing by the library and have us do it for you. 

Then, check out the events going on at the library this week and join us:

Monday – 7/15
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
Moon Landing Anniversary Celebration (for kids) at 4:00

Tuesday – 7/16
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00
Círculo de Lectores at 6:00

Wednesday – 7/17
Toddler Storytime at 10:30
STAR Reader at 3:00

Thursday – 7/18
STAR Reader at 3:00

Friday – 7/19
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 7/20
Tai Chi at 10:00
Apollo 11 Science Fun (for the whole family) 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

Head On

Scalzi brings us a tale of intrepid FBI Agent Chris Shane in Head On.  Head on is set in the same near future world that the previous book from the series, Lock In, was.  Shane suffers from a medical condition that leaves patients locked in their bodies.  Medical technology has been developed to allow such patients to remotely control what are essentially robots so they can interact with the world.  A game has developed where players use these robots to play what sounds like very violent football --- the goal is to rip the head off the designated “goat” player and kick it into the goal --- and that is where our story starts.  Someone dies in the middle of an exhibition game and things begin to look suspicious.  Shane is part of the team that investigates the crime, a crime that soon blossoms to include suspicious financial finagling, arson, lots of mayhem, and more deaths. 

The book tells an interesting story that can be read as a stand-alone, though if you enjoy it and haven’t read the first you’ll find yourself picking it up.

Events for the Week of July 7….

Sign up for summer reading (if you haven't already). You can sign yourself up with a visit to www.lapl.org/summer or swing by the library and have us do it for you. 

Then, check out the events going on at the library this week and join us:

Monday – 7/8
Grupo de apoyo para la familia at 10:00
LA DOT Tap Information Table from 2:30-4:30
DIY Musical Instruments at 4:00

Tuesday – 7/9
Baby Storytime at 10:30
LAPD Read Along at 3:00

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

Thursday – 7/11
STAR Reader at 3:00
Lotería Fun for teens at 4:00

Friday – 7/12
Drop in Computer Lab at 3:30

Saturday – 7/13
Tai Chi at 10:00
Jazz & Classical Guitar with Nick Mizock 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

Summer Reading Challenge 2019 – Apollo’s 50th

Do you remember the moon landing from 1969?  Whether you do or don’t join us as we celebrate the event with an afternoon of science fun.  We’ll construct straw propelled rocket ships, measure the results of our construction, and improve our construction.  Fun will be had by all and 1 will be the most successful.  Will it be you?

Join us on 7/20 at 3:00.  This is an all ages program so come if you’re 7 and come if you’re 70.

July’s eResource of the Month

If you have young children just starting to learn how to do their own research then you will want to learn about Kids InfoBits, July’s eResource of the Month.  Kids InfoBits is specifically designed for students Kindergarten through 5th grade.  It provides full-text, age-appropriate magazine and newspaper articles, videos, images, graphs, and reference content.  Students can explore by clicking into category links or they can use a search interface to specify what they are seeking. 

So, when your first or second grader needs to write about wombats or Abraham Lincoln and it’s too late to get to the library turn to our website and access Kids InfoBits with them.  You’ll need to have your library card handy when you go to: https://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#K and look for the Kids InfoBits link.

The Milk Lady of Bangalore

In her book The Milk Lady of Bangalore
Shoba Narayan tells the tale of her return to India through a series of vignettes reflecting on cows. Cows as they relate to her life, cows as they position themselves in Indian society and culture, and specifically cows as they drive her relations with others, specifically with Sarala the woman who sells fresh milk in the street outside of Narayan’s house. 

The book was a fascinating look at India despite its laser like focus on cows. I would recommend it for those interested in a look at another culture.