Telescope Night

 

The ever-popular Telescope Night returns (weather permitting) to the Arroyo Seco Library on Tuesday, December 3.  We will begin at 6:00 and wrap things up shortly before the library closes at 8:00.  We should be able to see Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.  Mark your calendar and plan to drop by.  Do note that the event is weather dependent, so if there are clouds on the day give us a call after 3:00 for word on the status of the program.

For those who don’t know what Telescope Night is…  During Telescope Night a group of local astronomers, the Sidewalk Astronomers (http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us/), sets up telescopes outside the library and points them at objects of interest in the night sky.  Everyone is invited to take as many turns as they’d like looking through the telescopes.  The Sidewalk Astronomers are very knowledgeable and will answer your questions & chat about how they made the telescopes.  Bring your questions with you.

LAPL’s Digital Collection: Movie Posters

 

Today we’ll look at one of our movie posters, specifically, a poster for the 1927 film Cabaret. The image shows “a scene from this crime drama depicting Gloria Trask (Gilda Gray) dancing with a chorus line.” The text on the poster tells us: “Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky present Gilda Gray in Cabaret with Tom Moore and Chester Conklin; Directed by Robert G. Vignola; From the story by Owen Davis; Screenplay by Becky Gardiner; A Paramount Picture; Produced by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation.”

Access the full poster here

New eMedia Resources You can use in the Branch

Here are a few new emedia resources that are accessible from library computers:

JSTOR is now accessible onsite at all library locations.  JSTOR provides access to journal articles, books, images and primary sources. Access includes ARTSTOR, JSTOR's cross disciplinary collection of over 2 million images from around the world, all rights-cleared and discoverable.

HeinOnline’s Public Library includes the full text of more than 2,800 law and law-related journals, access to U.S. federal and state case law, thousands of classic legal treatises, and also government publications. The resource features complete coverage of the U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Congressional Documents, and more—all are exact replicas of the original print publications and are fully searchable.  Accessible onsite at all library locations.

Come on in and check them out.

The Arroyo Book Club’s December Pick

 

For the past 8 years we had been reading a Shakespeare play for our December pick but a poll of the group suggested a switch to considering the classics more broadly for the month. So…. Our December read will be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. To quote the back of the book: 

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.

Stop by the branch to pick up a copy to read, while they last. You will find them in the usual location, just ask if you don’t know where that is.  The book may also be found as an ebook in Hoopla and in Libby.

We will meet to discuss the book on Saturday, December 28 at 3 p.m. It will be a hybrid meeting so you have the option of attending in person or via Zoom. If you’d like to join us via Zoom let us know at ayosco@lapl.org so we can get the link to you.

LA Made Presents: Let's Get in a Pickle Together!

Saturday, December 7 at 3 p.m.

Let's Get in a Pickle Together! is a family-friendly, hands-on pickling workshop that introduces folks to basic concepts in fermentation and vinegar pickling for the home kitchen. LA-based Chinese American fermented food advocate and instructor Jessica Wang brings extra pickling tips and insight drawn from her family’s diasporic Chinese culinary heritage.

The program has a limited number of seats so please RSVP to ayosco@lapl.org or give us a call at 323-255-0537.

This LA Made program was made possible with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Programming Coming up This Week

The library will be closed on Thursday & Friday this week in celebration of Thanksgiving

Find the in person programs at our branch as well as a selection of the exciting, virtual programs offered by branches across the city during the remainder of the week below (programs in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

The Señorita Mariposa StoryWalk is available offsite at the Audubon Center for enjoyment throughout the week.

Monday
4:00 Dinovember Building Bricks Challenge

Tuesday
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey

Wednesday
3:00 STAR Reader: Miss Katherine
6:00 Círculo de Lectores

Thursday 
Library Closed for Thanksgiving

Friday
Library Closed for Thanksgiving

Saturday
2:00 STAR Reader: Toni

Catch up with us on various sites...

LAPL platforms:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl

The Arroyo Writing Group’s December Prompt

The newly fledged Arroyo Writing Group will meet on December 19th at 6 p.m. We will be sharing our responses to the writing prompt:

Write something with a “tinge” of horror that takes its seed from a holiday tradition

The Arroyo Writing Group is for anyone interested in trying their hand at writing. We welcome you whether you are new to the art or and old expert looking for convivial place to share your work. Join our group for practice both writing short pieces across many genres and sharing your writing with others.

Who: Anyone of any level of experience. All that’s required is an interest in writing, a willingness to share your work, and an ability to give positive feedback to others.

What: Our writing group. Each month we will engage with a different writing prompt preparing our own short work in response and bringing it to share at our meeting. Prompts will range freely across genres.

Where: The Arroyo Seco Library / 6145 N. Figueroa St, 90042 / 323-255-0537 / ayosco@lapl.org

When: We will meet on the Third Thursday of each Month at 6 p.m.

Why: The why is down to you. It might be for the practice writing. It might be for the practice sharing what you write with others. It might be for the company of others who are also trying to compose. It might be….

Start writing and make plans to join us.

Monthly Trivia Question (Answer)….

 

This month we asked about betel nut. To quote variously from the source: 

“The betel or areca nut is the nut of the betel palm, Areca catechu, cultivated from eastern Africa to the South Pacific.”

“It is thought to be the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world (after caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol), with the number of users estimated to be well into the hundreds of millions.”

“The major psychoactive constituent is areco-line, an alkaloid with mild stimulant properties similar to those of nicotine in that it interacts with receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcho-line, although in a less specific fashion than nicotine. The immediate effects of betel chewing are euphoria, increased alertness, a sensation of warmth in the body, as well as increased salivation and sweating. The usual dose is a half nut. Two or more nuts are enough to produce severe side effects or death.”

The question, and answer, were found in the Encyclopedia of Drugs - Alcohol and Addictive Behavior. This is a Gale Virtual Reference e-Book. Intended for the student and layperson, it covers the social, medical and political issues related to drugs and alcohol.

Find this e-reference work  on the library’s Research & Homework page under “E” and access it with your library card.

A Potpourri of New eMedia Resources for you Edification

The following are a few of the newer eMedia resources available to card holders courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library:

• Have you ever wanted to dig in and learn sign language? Now you can using Mango Languages.  Mango Languages has added American Sign Language to their large slate of available languages to learn.
• If you’re looking for more places to find test prep titles, try Libby where the collection includes the collection includes Princeton Review titles (AP exams, SAT, ACT and GED) that are always available, no waitlists.
• Looking for San Diego newspapers? The San Diego Union Tribune has been added to our package of local online newspaper titles available via the Southern California News Group.
• Video content from The Great Courses is now available on Kanopy.  You can check out the entire "season" (all the individual video lessons) of a Great Courses title for a designated amount of time using your monthly allotment of Kanopy tickets.
• Hoopla has added Get Healthy U TV to their BingePass offerings (you use one of your monthly hoopla borrows for 7 day access to the resource.)  The platform includes video courses for all fitness levels with categories like strength, cardio, kickboxing, barre, bodyweight, low impact, yoga, and more.

Find these amazing tools, as well as a host of others, on the library website’s Research & Homework page and access them with your library card.

Programming Coming up This Week

Find the in person programs at our branch as well as a selection of the exciting, virtual programs offered by branches across the city during the week below (programs in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

The Señorita Mariposa StoryWalk is available offsite at the Audubon Center for enjoyment throughout the week.

Monday
4:00 Rip, Shred, Play

Tuesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey
5:00 Walk-In Tutor for Adults

Wednesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Miss Katherine

Thursday 
6:00 Arroyo Writing Group

Friday
10:00 Yoga & Meditation With Master John (email dmatthews@lapl.org )

Saturday
2:00 STAR Reader: Toni
3:00 Arroyo Book Club (in person OR via Zoom / email ayosco@lapl.org for link)

Catch up with us on various sites...

LAPL platforms:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl

LAPL’s Digital Collection: Travel Posters

 

This week we peek into the Travel Poster collection and find this undated Air France poster advertising their flights into Asia.

Access the poster here

Enchanted Glass

 

Enchanted Glass is a children’s book that readers of any age will enjoy.  Aidan Cain is 12 years old and things are going badly.  His grandmother has died and he is being stalked by shadowy things. His grandmother always told him that if things were bad he should seek out Jocelyn Brandon a powerful sorcerer.  But when he arrives he finds Jocelyn has died and his grandson Andrew is in charge of the manor.  The only problem is Andrew doesn’t seem to quite remember anything about the magical details of his grandfather’s field of care.  Can Andrew and Aidan between them get things figured out, sort out the stalkers, and assume Jocelyn’s field of care?

The book is a quick read, featuring lovely, stubborn characters that anyone can enjoy.

Programming Coming up This Week

Note that the library will be closed on Monday to celebrate Veterans’ Day

Find the in person programs at our branch as well as a selection of the exciting, virtual programs offered by branches across the city during the remainder of the week below (programs in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

Monday
Library closed in honor of Veterans’ Day

Tuesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey
5:00 Walk-In Tutor for Adults
6:00-7:45 Telescope Night with the Sidewalk Astronomers

Wednesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Miss Katherine
6:00 Círculo de Lectores

Thursday 
9:00-5:00 Q.Me Free Legal Clinic (Register)

Friday
10:00 Yoga & Meditation With Master John (email dmatthews@lapl.org )

Saturday
11:00 Genealogy Garage: Exploring Your Indigenous California Roots (LAPL YouTube)
2:00 STAR Reader: Toni

Catch up with us on various sites...

LAPL platforms:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl

Monthly Trivia Question…

 This month’s question is what is betel nut?

Telescope Night

 

The ever-popular Telescope Night returns (weather permitting) to the Arroyo Seco Library on Tuesday, November 12.  We will begin at 6:00 and wrap things up shortly before the library closes at 8:00.  We should be able to see the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn.  Mark your calendar and plan to drop by.  Do note that the event is weather dependent, so if there are clouds on the day give us a call after 3:00 for word on the status of the program.

For those who don’t know what Telescope Night is…  During Telescope Night a group of local astronomers, the Sidewalk Astronomers (http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us/), sets up telescopes outside the library and points them at objects of interest in the night sky.  Everyone is invited to take as many turns as they’d like looking through the telescopes.  The Sidewalk Astronomers are very knowledgeable and will answer your questions & chat about how they made the telescopes.  Bring your questions with you.

Programming Coming up This Week

Note that the library is an election polling place through election day. Stop by and vote!

Find the in person programs at our branch as well as a selection of the exciting, virtual programs offered by branches across the city during the week below (programs in person at our branch unless otherwise noted). Visit our online calendar for our complete program selection….

Monday
11:00 Virtual Toddler Storytime (Register)

Tuesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Jeffrey
5:00 Walk-In Tutor for Adults

Wednesday
10:30 Baby & Toddler Storytime
3:00 STAR Reader: Miss Katherine

Thursday 
9:00-5:00 Q.Me Free Legal Clinic (Register)

Friday
10:00 Yoga & Meditation With Master John (email dmatthews@lapl.org )

Saturday
12:00 Scholarships & Financial Aid: What Parents Need to Know (email teenservices@lapl.org for link)
2:00 STAR Reader: Toni

Catch up with us on various sites...

LAPL platforms:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary

Arroyo Seco Social Media:
Blog: arroyoseco5.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoLibrary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arroyosecolapl