We are a branch of the Los Angeles Public Library located in Highland Park. Keep yourself updated on our doings here...
The question and answer were found in Britannica School. Britannica School is accessible from any computer via the web, LAPL Library Card required. This digital resource is a three-part multi-subject encyclopedia with portals for elementary, middle, and high school students. Find it listed alphabetically under B on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework)
Become a Neighborhood Council Board Member
If you’ve ever wanted to advocate for our community as you
speak up to represent the issues you consider important then now is your
time. File to run for the Historic
Highland Park Neighborhood Council. All Highland Park stakeholders are eligible
to run. Find more information, including
links to the filing portal, on the HHPNC website’s election page: https://bit.ly/3nRNqmp
Important Dates:
December 12, 2020 Candidate
Filing Period Begins
January 26, 2021 Candidate
Filing Period Ends
February 12, 2021 Vote-By-Mail
Application Period Begins
March 15, 2021 Ballot
Mailing Period Begins
April 6, 2021 Vote-By-Mail
Application Period Ends
April 13, 2021 Election
Day!
This book is available from Project Gutenberg. Find it here: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/201. It is also an always available book from the Overdrive collection. Find that copy here: lapl.overdrive.com/library/available/media/784579. You can also get in touch with me at ayosco@lapl.org for a physical copy of the selected book, while supplies last, if you prefer.
The plan is for everyone to obtain a copy and spend the first couple of weeks of January reading. I will begin posting questions to discuss on the group’s web bulletin board space on January 13 and will add a new question each day until January 23 (our regular meeting day). I encourage members to log on each day to answer the day’s question as well as review, and respond to, the answers other members provided for the previous days questions. We will then meet via video-conference on January 23 at 3:00.
If you’re not already a member of our web bulletin board space email me at ayosco@lapl.org. I will send you the details you need to know to sign yourself up.
Make a note: if you plan to join the video-conference you’ll need to send an email to ayosco@lapl.org so I can get the conference link to you.
The Winter Reading Challenge began on December 7. Have you & your family signed up yet? Do so here: www.lapl.org/winter. Then join us this week for…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
Today’s article takes a close look at the Mystic Dharma Temple. At the time the article was written the temple was one of the largest Buddhist temples in the United States and housed one of the US’s largest statues of Buddha. The statue in question is 2.5 tons and carved out of white marble. For more information about the temple check out the 4/7/1984 article: Church landmark over 50 years old.
This time a festive holiday tree. You will need:
Create a template shape that has bilateral symmetry, that is, when you fold it in half the two sides are identical. It can be as simple as a triangle or a more complicated shape (see image 1). Use the template to cut a number of the shapes. The more you cut the fuller your tree. I would say at least 8. Fold your shapes in half and stack them on top of each other (see image 2). Take your glue and glue all the shapes together (see image 3). Allow the glue to dry. Finally glue the top to the bottom creating the final 3d shape (see image 4).
The Winter Reading Challenge began on December 7. Have you & your family signed up yet? Do so here: www.lapl.org/winter. Then join us this week for…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
Today’s article brings us a retelling of the history of our local Highland Park Church of the Nazarene. The article: Nazarenes celebrate golden anniversary from 2/10/1964 provides an in depth look at their time in Highland Park. Check it out.
The question and answer were found in Britanica School in an article chock full of other fascinating facts about giraffes. Britannica School is accessible from any computer via the web, LAPL Library Card required. This digital resource is a three-part multi-subject encyclopedia with portals for elementary, middle, and high school students. Find it listed alphabetically under B on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework)
Sign up to enjoy a look at Mayan Astronomy. The program for elementary students is called "Two Eyed Seeing: Mayan Astronomy & NASA Moon to Mars” and will examine Mayan astronomical cycles. It will be held on Thursday, Dec. 17, 6:30 – 7:30 pm pst. Visit https://nativeskywatchers.com/two-eyed-nasa-maya.html for details and to sign up.
Since we’re talking astronomy…. Save the Date: Perseverance Rover Landing
Perseverance will touch down on Mars on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at approximately 12:30 p.m. PST (3:30 p.m. EST).
Landing on Mars is challenging. Only about 40 percent of the missions ever sent to Mars – by any space agency - have been successful. Perseverance is only the fifth rover to attempt landing on Mars. More details about how you can watch as we near the date.
The Winter Reading Challenge began on December 7. Have you & your family signed up yet? Do so here: www.lapl.org/winter. Then join us this week for…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
Want to know what to look for in the night sky in December? Check out NASA’s Skywatching page (https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/) for all the things to look for as well as all the information explaining what you see. This month features the winter solstice as well as a meteor shower and a close meet up between Jupiter and Saturn.
The Winter Reading Challenge begins on December 7. Have you & your family signed up yet? Do so here: www.lapl.org/winter. Then join us this week for…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
In a learning circle, you sign up for an online class to take individually and then meet with your learning circle to work and think through the class materials. The learning circle provides you the additional support you need to finish the class as well as giving you the richness of peer feedback to help you refine what you are learning.
Our learning circle will be taking the University of Michigan’s online class - Act on Climate: Steps to Individual, Community, and Political Action. Read the course description, preview the syllabus, and enroll here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/act-on-climate
Our learning circle will meet weekly via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 beginning on January 5 and ending on February 23. The January 5 meeting will be a shorter orientation session where we introduce ourselves, make sure everyone is correctly enrolled & any lingering questions are answered, and decide collectively on the procedures we will follow.
Enroll at P2PU (https://learningcircles.p2pu.org/en/signup/online-1497/) to make it easy for me to get in touch with you and/or by emailing ayosco@lapl.org. Meeting links will be sent to enrolled students each Monday via email.
So start the New Year by putting your brain to work learning something that will help you make positive change in the world!
This week’s trivia question was what is baladi? Baladi, or Sudanese round bread, is traditionally baked in an outdoor clay oven, which imparts a smoky aroma. In addition, the nigella sativa seeds sprinkled on top give baladi a pungent taste and smell. The Sudanese tear pieces of this bread and use them to scoop up stews, vegetables, or pieces of meat. Find the recipe in the database the question & answer was found in.
This question (and answer) were found in A to Z World Food. A to Z World Food is an online resource containing traditional recipes for 174 countries of the world and a food glossary with over 800 terms. Includes articles on ingredients, food quotes, and historical timelines. Find it listed alphabetically under A on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework) and access it with your library card.
The Arroyo Book Club will be continuing our long standing
December tradition of reading one of Shakespeare’s plays this year making
Shakespeare’s Hamlet our pick for the month.
Hamlet… to be or not to be….
There are several ways you can obtain this month’s book. First, I have a number of copies of the No Fear Shakespeare edition of the play available for you to pick up via appointment. Contact me at ayosco@lapl.org if you’d like one of these. Second, check out a copy from Overdrive. You’ll find an always available copy here: https://lapl.overdrive.com/library/available/media/784594. Third, download a copy from Project Gutenberg. You’ll find a copy here: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1524.
You can also take advantage of the Library’s streaming media to view a performance of the play or a documentary about it.
Search Hoopla with “Hamlet” and you’ll find:
Search Kanopy with “Hamlet” and you’ll find:
Here are some things to look out for this week…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
A New Day in LA
This year’s Winter Reading Challenge runs from December 7 through January 9. It is an activity based, Beanstack challenge with a general theme of sustainability. There will be 20 activities offered with those finishing at least 5 tasks considered as completers and entered into our prize drawing. Activities are appropriate for all ages and include reading books in popular genres, attending a variety of virtual library programs, participating in STEAM programs - Neighborhood Science, makers and coding, etc. You will find the tasks listed on Beanstack and will use that program to mark your completion of tasks.
As to prizes - 25 winners will be given access to a special collection of eco-friendly items from The Library Store so they can select their own prize. These prizes will be shipped directly to the winners.
Visit https://lapl.org/winter to pre-register for the program now and begin the challenge on the 7th
Make plans to enroll your entire family and see who is first among you to complete the challenge!
This week’s trivia question was what is the name of traditional Mongolian beverage? While there is probably more than one answer, the answer I was going for is airag, a sour drink made from fermented mare's milk. Airag is an important part of the traditional summer diet for Mongols.
This question (and answer) were found in A to Z World Food. A to Z World Food is an online resource containing traditional recipes for 174 countries of the world and a food glossary with over 800 terms. Includes articles on ingredients, food quotes, and historical timelines. Find it listed alphabetically under A on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework) and access it with your library card.
The challenge: create a page that celebrates your own holiday traditions. This page could include favorite recipes, images, memories, stories of the season, you could give it to your children and let them write or draw what the holidays mean to them, really what goes on your page is up to you.
Then: send the page to us here at the library. You can email it to us at ayosco@lapl.org. Or put it in an envelope labeled “Attn: Sarah – for holiday book” and stick it in a book you’re returning to us.
What then: I’ll compile all contributed pages into a book which I’ll save as a pdf file for distribution to all who would like a copy.
So get started creating your page and get it to me by 12/12/20
Here are some things to look out for this week…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday & Friday
Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
This week’s trivia question is what is the name of traditional Mongolian beverage?
Greene’s sort of secondary point is that language policing is a marker of a kind of reactionary politics that in itself is not good. All in all this is an enjoyable look at language and language use written for the amateur that is not going to tell you when to correctly use whom or how to correctly tone the end of your sentences. Give it a shot.
This week’s trivia question asked what are the 3 main areas included in the Mayan’s territory? Let me quote directly from the source to provide the answer:
The territory occupied by the Maya included three main areas:
- The highlands of what is now southern Guatemala: this area was heavily influenced culturally by Mexico and is sometimes not considered part of the true Maya territory.
- The central area of the Guatemalan lowlands: this was the most developed and populous area of Maya civilization.
- The Yucatán Peninsula, which was also lowlands: this area was a source of salt, honey, cotton fabrics, slaves, and other specialized goods for other parts of the Maya region.
This question (and answer) was found in the American Indian Experience database. This database illuminates the histories and contemporary cultures of the Native peoples of North America. This resource includes references, scholarly works, primary documents and papers, photographs, audio clips, and maps. Find it listed alphabetically under A on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework) and access it with your library card.
Here are some things to look out for this week…
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
This week’s trivia question asks what are the 3 main areas included in the Mayan’s territory?
Calling Highland Park! Let’s share our holiday traditions. We’ll create a book. So….
The challenge: create a page that celebrates your own holiday traditions. This page could include favorite recipes, images, memories, stories of the season, you could give it to your children and let them write or draw what the holidays mean to them... really what goes on your page is up to you.
Then: send the page to us here at the library. You can email it to us at ayosco@lapl.org. Or put it in an envelope labeled “Attn: Sarah – for holiday book” and stick it in a book you’re returning to us.
What then: I’ll compile all contributed pages into a book which I’ll save as a pdf file for distribution to all who would like a copy.
So get started creating your page and get it to me by 12/12/20
(Garvanza edition) Check out this document titled: Abstract of Title of Garvanza Lands and find numerous land plats and deed descriptions all referencing Garvanza. A fascinating glimpse into the layout of (& consideration cost) of our local Garvanza. Take a peek.
This week’s trivia question asked when (approximately) did Motezuma I rule the Aztec Empire? The answer is 1440-1469.
This question (and answer) was found in the American Indian Experience database. This database illuminates the histories and contemporary cultures of the Native peoples of North America. This resource includes references, scholarly works, primary documents and papers, photographs, audio clips, and maps. Find it listed alphabetically under A on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework) and access it with your library card.
The Black Freedom Struggle
The Black Freedom Struggle in the United States: A Selection of Primary Sources Accessible from any computer. This online resource focuses on African American U.S. history, featuring historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, and correspondence. It contains approximately 1,600 primary source documents focused on six different phases of Black Freedom.
Find it on the library’s Research & Homework page listed alphabetically under B (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#B).
Here are some things to look out for this week…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
This week’s trivia question asks when (approximately) did Motezuma I rule the Aztec Empire?
Want to know what to look for in the night sky in November? Check out NASA’s Skywatching page for all the things to look for as well as all the information explaining what you see. There will be good planet viewing this month & check out the Pleiades.
(Eagle Rock edition) Do you know who Conrad Buff is? He was a noted California artist. This article, Eagle Rock Artist's love of southwest evidenced in current exhibit of work describes his work and provides a little biographical detail. Check it out.
This week’s trivia question asked what is the range of the Blunt-nosed
Leopard Lizard? The answer is easy… California. To be a little more specific
the San Joaquin Valley. This lizard is
endangered. Let me quote from the source
for a bit more information about the Blunt Nosed Leopard Lizard:
Blunt-nosed leopard lizards feed primarily on insects (mostly grasshoppers, crickets, and moths) and other lizards; some plant material is eaten rarely or is perhaps consumed unintentionally with animal prey.
Blunt-nosed leopard lizards inhabit open, sparsely vegetated areas of low relief on the San Joaquin Valley floor and in the surrounding foothills.
Ferguson's Career Guidance Center
Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center is an award-winning online resource for lifelong career exploration and planning. Users can assess their career goals and interests, plan their education, learn workplace skills, find apprenticeships and internships, conduct a job search, and much more.
Find it on the library’s Research & Homework page under F (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#F) and access it with your library card.
Here are some things to look out for this week…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
This week’s trivia question asks what is the range of the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard?
We are looking to start a learning circle. What is a learning circle you ask? Well… Learning circles are free study groups for people who want to learn something together. Most learning circles meet weekly for the length of the course. Each learning circle is led by a facilitator who sets up the (virtual) space each week and helps to ensure that things flow smoothly. Without a teacher in the room, learning circles succeed through peer learning, a practice in which every participant is expected to bring their own experiences, share with one another, and give feedback.
What can you learn? Almost anything. Learning circles use free online courses as the basis of study. These courses come from online course providers, universities, and non-profit organizations from around the world. The universe of available courses is huge so a learning circle can be started for almost anything you can imagine.
I’d like to start by getting feedback from anyone who would be interested in participating in a learning circle with us. Specifically about what subjects you’d be interested in and what meeting day/time would be most appropriate. Here is a quick survey form for you to fill out: https://forms.gle/MKftBwgEEQMdxcpP9
Thank you for your response and keep your eyes peeled for the next step.
Today’s trivia of the week question asked what do you know about Charlotte Eugenia Hawkins Brown? Brown was known for almost-single handedly creating a school as well as the “African-American Miss Manners” because of her book The Correct Thing to Do—to Say—to Wear (1941). She also published many short stories and articles.
Read about her in the Encyclopedia of African-American Writing, a Salem Press ebook. Access it from the Salem Press & Grey House Publishing Reference Shelf which you can find under S on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework) and access it with your library card.
LAPL's very first Electronics 101 For Kids Virtual Workshop Series is now open for registration! Curious about electronics? Or wondered if resistance truly is futile? Wednesdays in November. For ages 8-12. Limited to 30 participants. Registration required by Sunday, November 1. Register here: http://bit.ly/laple4k
This is a book from Hoopla. You can also get in touch with me at ayosco@lapl.org for a physical copy of the selected book, while supplies last, if you prefer.
Access the copy via Hoopla (https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11694584). If you don’t already have a Hoopla account you will need to create one. Go to https://www.hoopladigital.com/ and select “get started today.” Enter email and make up a password. You will be prompted to select a library, look for Los Angeles Public Library. You will then need to supply your library card number.
The plan is for everyone to obtain a copy and spend the first couple of weeks of November reading. I will begin posting questions to discuss on the group’s web bulletin board space on November 18 and will add a new question each day until November 28 (our regular meeting day). I encourage members to log on each day to answer the day’s question as well as review, and respond to, the answers other members provided for the previous days questions. We will then meet via video-conference on November 28 at 3:00.
If you’re not already a member of our web bulletin board space email me at ayosco@lapl.org. I will send you the details you need to know to sign yourself up.
Make a note: if you plan to join the video-conference you’ll need to send an email to ayosco@lapl.org so I can get the conference link to you.
Here are some things to look out for this week…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
Today’s trivia of the week question asks what do you know about Charlotte Eugenia Hawkins Brown?
As you can tell, Stross’ series has at this point departed quite radically from the world we live in. The pathway of this divergence has actually been one of the fun things to watch across the course of the series. This book, despite the rather outlandish sounding plot, was quite enjoyable. Although the book could be understood independently from the series you will get more nuance from it if you’ve read the series. Recommended.
This week’s trivia question asked what was the cost of a pound of sugar in 1896? In 1896 you could get a pound of sugar for $0.04.
This question (and answer) was found in the “Value of a Dollar.” This is an ebook. Find it listed alphabetically under V on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework) and access it with your library card.
This time around let’s make a cute little magnetic bookmark.
You will need:
Cut your cloth into a rectangle. My rectangle was about 5 inches by 2.5 inches. Cut two small pieces of the magnetic tape to place at the center top and center bottom of the back of your rectangle scrap. Note that magnets can both attract and repel each other so before fixing the magnet bits in place make sure you have them oriented so that when the cloth bends over and they are brought together they attract. Use the magnet tape’s adhesive property to fasten into place. Fold one half of the cloth over to the middle and stick down with the glue. Do the same with the other half. You now have a 5 inch long tube of cloth with magnets at either end.
To use the bookmark simply fold it over the top of the page you wish to mark allowing the magnets to attach to each other through the page.
Here are some things to look out for this week…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Catch up with us on various sites...
LAPL platforms:
Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Check out the Library’s online calendar at https://lapl.org/whats-on/calendar for the complete list of programming on offer.
This week we asked if you could easily find a book for young children featuring elephants. Now of course there are many right answers and many paths to the right answer. Let me provide one answer and one path. So… a book featuring elephants, Twenty-One Elephants: and Still Standing by April Jones Prince
I found this answer by using one of our database tools. In this case it was TeachingBooks.net. This online resource is a wealth of multimedia resources about K-12 books to support reading and library activities for all grades and content areas. Find it listed alphabetically under T on LAPL’s Research & Homework page (https://lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework) and access it with your library card.