We are a branch of the Los Angeles Public Library located in Highland Park. Keep yourself updated on our doings here...
This label is for the Victoria Avenue Citrus Ass'n, a company out of Riverside. It is for the Avenue Brand and features a drawing of palm and eucalyptus lined street with a car visible in the distance. The label is undated. Find the image here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/fcl/id/375/rec/1
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun is romance with a difference. Dev Deshpande is a producer on
a reality TV series called Ever After. Ever After is a dating show kind of
along the lines of the Bachelor. Dev is a romantic and deeply believes that the
show offers a path to true love. Charlie
Winshaw comes on the show as the current season’s contestant. Charlie is
awkward, anxious, and on the show in an attempt to rescue his image. Dev is put
in charge of getting Charlie into the swing of things. Soon it becomes clear that there is chemistry
between Dev & Charlie, more chemistry then there is between Charlie and any
of the other contestants. Throw in a manipulative producer, a cadre of helpful
friends, and a host of mental health quirks and things soon take a turn.
A cute romance with things to say about what love is and what we expect from relationships. I would recommend it
This month we’ll ask what company had the highest total sales revenue in 2025 in Highland Park?
Domingo, 18 Octubre @ 2:00 p.m. / Sunday, October 18 @ 2:00 p.m.
Únete con la escritora Yurina Melara Valiuls para una conversación sobre El Salvador 2125, su nuevo libro juvenile en español que imagina El Salvador cien años en el futuro.
Join author Yurina Melara Valiulis for a conversation about El Salvador 2125, her new Spanish-language young adult novel that imagines El Salvador one hundred years in the future
Today’s entry from the autograph collection features the signature of Henry Mills Alden. Alden (1836-1919) was an Author and the editor of Harper's Magazine. Find the full image here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/autograph/id/52/rec/1
Saturday, October 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Make a zine with the Los Angeles Zine Fest! Learn the history of zines and how you can create your own eight page mini-zine to record a recipe to share or give as a gift. Participants will have the option to photocopy and exchange zines.
This event is part of our Recipes, Zines, & Memory-Keeping series. Plan to arrive early for the preceding Jams, Jelly, & Maramlades program and don’t forget to check out the collections & resources table.
October is a fiction month for the Arroyo Book Club, so we will be reading The Women by Kristin Hannah for our discussion. It is the story of one woman who joins the Army Nurse Corps to follow her brother to Vietnam. To quote from the catalog description:
“The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm's way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.”
Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 p.m.
Join Certified Food Preservation Instructor Brie Wakeland Muszynski for a presentation on how to safely make jams, jellies, and marmalades at home. The presentation includes tasting samples, and a jam making zine.
This event is part of our Recipes, Zines, & Memory-Keeping series. Plan to stay for the Recipe Zine-Making program and don’t forget to check out the collections & resources table.
This is the Lunch/Dinner menu for Dixie’s Chicken, a restaurant located in Salem, MA. The menu is circa 1945. And, interestingly, feels compelled to include the text “positively no dancing” which makes you wonder about the event that necessitated that addition. View the full menu here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/menus/id/15/rec/1
Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 323-255-0537 if you have any questions. Email ayosco@lapl.org
This month’s trivia question asked how you could find a poem on the topic of the start of school. While there are many ways one way is to make use of the library’s database “Lit Finder.” Once in the database you’d want to do an advanced search using the search term school and limiting the results to full text poems. One of the results is the (somewhat saccharine) poem “The Father in School” by Amos R. Wells. The poem begins:
Unfamiliar work and rule, --
Little Lad's first day in school.
"Stay! O papa, stay with me!"
Thus he murmurs tearfully.
And, though business calls away,
Papa stays the livelong day.
Wells, Amos Russel. "The Father in School." The Collected Poems of Amos R. Wells, by Amos R. Wells, Christian Endeavor World, 1921, p. 44. Gale Literature: LitFinder
Find the Lit Finder database on the library’s Research page (https://www.lapl.org/digital-library/search) search for it by title and access it with your library card.
This bookplate is for the Akron Public Library. It is dated 1908 and is a black and white plate of an Olympic runner holding a torch above the library's name which is bordered by a decorative trim.
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark is set in an alternate history Cairo. In this world a researcher managed to open a hole between our universe and one inhabited by mythological beings sometime in the mid-1800s. The resulting migration of some of those beings as well as the technological and scientific discoveries enabled by the whole situation resulted in Egypt coming to prominence in the world. In this particular story we follow two investigators for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities as they investigate a tram car that is haunted getting a close look at this interesting different version of the world along the way.
This is a fascinating exercise in world building that is supported by an interesting plot and likeable characters. I would heartily recommend it.
This month’s trivia question is more about process. Let’s celebrate the start of a new school year with a poem. How could you find a poem on that topic (i.e. the start of the school year)?
Saturday, September 19 at 3 p.m. at the Arroyo Seco Branch Library
Join us for an interactive game, where you get to play a benevolent world overlord and try to solve the climate crisis in just 60 minutes. Nothing like working against the clock on one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime!
This interactive game will utilize the climate solutions simulator En-ROADS, co-developed by the climate nonprofit Climate Interactive and the MIT Sloan School of Management. This session is open to all, no expertise on climate science or solutions needed. We will not overwhelm you with data, but rather help you build a mental model of what needs to happen for us to ensure a livable future.
Our goal is to give you hope and inspiration about possible real-world solutions – no doomerism here!
Email us at ayosco@lapl.org for more information.
The movie featured in today’s poster is The Mark of Zorro. This was a 1920 movie and in the poster Don Diego Vega/Señor Zorro (Douglas Fairbanks) is shown leaning on a large barrel, upon which there is a portrait of Fairbanks. The text on the poster says “Douglas Fairbanks in 'The Mark of Zorro'; Directed by Fred Niblo from the "All Story Weekly" novel "The Curse of Capistrano" by Johnston McCulley.”
Find the full poster here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/movie/id/6/rec/1
The Arroyo Book Club will be reading An Immense World by Ed Yong for our September discussion. To quote from the catalog
description:
The Earth teems with sights and textures, sounds and vibrations, smells and tastes, electric and magnetic fields. But every animal is enclosed within its own unique sensory bubble, perceiving but a tiny sliver of an immense world. This book welcomes us into a previously unfathomable dimension -- the world as it is truly perceived by other animals…
Stop by the branch for a copy of the book.
We will come together to discuss the book on Saturday, September 26 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 send an email to ayosco@lapl.org so we can get the link to you.
This month our question was who was Charlotte de Berry. She was a pirate. To quote our source:
“De Berry’s legendary exploits include killing a British navy captain, taking charge of his ship, and converting the crew to piracy.” However, to further quote our source: “Charlotte de Berry may have actually lived, or she may be a totally fictional character created by Edward Lloyd in History of the Pirates, published in 1836. Lloyd’s history is the first written source to mention de Berry and did not appear until two hundred years after her birth; it appears odd that so much time would pass with no reference to her. Furthermore, the book contains many anachronisms and appears to have drawn stories from other fictions. Lloyd’s book is the source for information about de Berry in later books.”
Real or not we
found out about her from Great Lives from History: Notorious Lives. This ebook can be found on the library’s
Research page search for it by
title and access it with your library card.
From the responses received the library will select 100 contributions to form a collective portrait of the Los Angeles Public Library in 2026. The selected submissions will be placed inside the new centennial time capsule, which will be reinstalled in the cornerstone of Central Library and set to be opened in 2126.
The deadline for submission is September 5th. Please stop by the branch to pick up the special stationary, compose your entry, and then return it for consideration.
This travel poster is advertising Bermuda. In it a couple takes a nighttime bicycle ride
along a shore in Bermuda. The poster is undated and the poster’s artist is
Adolph Treidler. Find the full poster here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/travel/id/152/rec/1
Escape the heat with a cool film!
Sunday, August 16 at 2 p.m.
We will be enjoying Fantastic Mr. Fox. An animated version of the Roald Dahl book directed by Wes Anderson.
Everyone is welcome!
Madeline (aka Max) Maxwell is a historian with a cool new job that lets her witness history first hand instead of researching it second hand --- her employer has time travel. After surviving a harrowing training regime she begins her work only to discover that there is a secret cabal of time travelers seeking to profit from history. She and her comrades in arms at St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research must do some serious plotting to come out on top and preserve their organization.
If time traveling hijinks sound good to you then you’ll want to pick up Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. Be warned, this is the start of a series.
This is a 1789 fashion plate from an unknown magazine. It shows a woman in floor length blue dress with a yellow bodice, wearing a large bonnet with floating red ribbons. She also wears a long yellow shawl with red diamond patterns on the end.
Find image here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/fashion/id/8/rec/1
Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew that the woman he loved had poisoned her brutal first husband. He suspected also that someone had been blackmailing her. Then, tragically, came the news that she had taken her own life with an apparent drug overdose.
However, the evening post brought Roger one last fatal scrap of information, but before he could finish reading the letter, he was stabbed to death. Luckily one of Roger's friends and the newest resident to retire to this normally quiet village takes over—none other than Monsieur Hercule Poirot . . .
Not only beloved by generations of readers, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was one of Agatha Christie's own favorite works—a brilliant whodunit that firmly established the author's reputation as the Queen of Mystery.
Visit our branch this August to check out and use (in branch) a virtual reality headset. Use them to watch a curated collection of award-winning immersive stories from around the world. All of this kicks off with an in-branch program on
Friday, July 31
Join us for the program and come back throughout the month to explore the virtual movie collection.
This map is titled “Los Angeles Harbor and Vicinity, 1938” and it is a color map of the Los Angeles Harbor, including Terminal Island, San Pedro, Wilmington, and a portion of Long Beach.; Includes location maps and index. Find the complete map here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/maps/id/33/rec/1
Who: Everyone: All ages are welcome
What: Families can connect through the power of rhythm. This fun-filled program builds community and allows families to bond and communicate without words. Drums are provided.
When: Saturday, August 1 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: The Arroyo Seco Library, 6145 N. Figueroa St.
Note: Space is limited to the first 20 participants. RSVP to lincolnliteracy@lapl.org or call (213) 228-7037 x70219.
Meet us in the library lobby tonight at 6 pm for a Highland Park photo walk. All are welcome!
This month our question was what was Archimedes of Syracuse know for. To quote from the source:
“Archimedes of Syracuse is considered one of the greatest thinkers of the ancient world. He established the principles of plane and solid geometry, discovered the concept of specific gravity, conducted experiments on buoyancy, demonstrated the power of mechanical advantage, and invented the Archimedes Screw, an auger-like device for raising water.”
A fascinating thinker find out more about him with the help of Gale in Context: Biography. Gale In Context: Biography covers the world's most influential people, merging reference content with periodicals and multimedia, allowing users to search for people based on name, occupation, nationality, ethnicity, birth/death dates and places, gender, keyword and full text. Find it on the library’s Research & Homework page by searching the title and access it with your library card.
The specific article referenced:
"Archimedes of Syracuse." Notable Mathematicians, Gale, 2008. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1625000008/BIC?u=lapl&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=c3cd79ca. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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Join your neighbors for an evening stroll through the heart of Highland Park! This summer, we aren't just walking for exercise—we’re on a mission to capture the iconic images that define our corner of L.A.
Walk: A scenic group determined loop through the neighborhood.
Capture: Use your phone to snap "postcard-worthy" photos of local landmarks.
Connect: Meet fellow residents and see the community in a new light.
Today’s fruit crate label is for the College Heights Orange and Lemon Ass'n. of Claremont. The label image shows 3 runners approaching the finish line in a packed stadium. Find the complete image here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/fcl/id/350/rec/8
What: Join us for a hands-on pickling workshop and enjoy an introduction to basic concepts in fermentation and vinegar pickling for the home kitchen.
When: This Saturday, July 11 at 3 p.m.
Where: The Arroyo Seco Library, find us in the Meeting Room
Questions: email ayosco@lapl.org or call 323-255-0537
This year’s Summer With the Library theme is Postmarked from LA. Leaning into that theme and picking a title that explores Los Angeles, our July selection will be The Mirage Factory by Gary Krist. Quoting from the book’s catalog description:
“Little more than a century ago, the southern coast of California was sleepy semi-desert farmland. Then, as if overnight, one of the world's largest and most iconic cities emerged. At the heart of the seemingly impossible, meteoric rise of Los Angeles were the visions of three ingenious but deeply flawed people…”
Stop by the branch for a copy of the book. If you’d like it in ebook format, you can find it on Libby.
We will come together to discuss the book on Saturday, July 25 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 send an email to ayosco@lapl.org so we can get the link to you.
In this special book club meeting, we are continuing our discussion of June’s book, The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen... and the author himself will be joining us live!
This is an incredible opportunity to ask your questions directly and hear his insights on the book.
When: July 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Gather your thoughts and questions about the book and join us for this incredible opportunity. Please email ayosco@lapl.org for the link!
Today we have the autograph of journalist and author Cynthia
May Westover Alden. Alden lived from 1862-1931. Find the complete image here: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/autograph/id/41/rec/8
Join us for a hands-on pickling workshop and enjoy an introduction to basic concepts in fermentation and vinegar pickling for the home kitchen. L.A. based Chinese American fermented food advocate and instructor, Jessica Wang, brings pickling tips and insight drawn from her family's diasporic Chinese culinary heritage.
When: July 11 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: The Arroyo Seco Library / 6145 N. Figueroa Street
This program was made possible with the generous support of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.
This month the question was what is shibori? Let’s turn to the Oxford English Dictionary where we learn that shibori:
Is “Any of several Japanese manual resist-dyeing methods which involve folding, twisting, binding, stitching, or compressing cloth, and applying indigo or other dyes to produce a variety of patterns. Also (and in earliest use): the fabric produced using these methods.”
The question, and its answer, were found in the Oxford English Dictionary. An online version of which is found on the library’s Research & Homework page under “O” and accessible with your library card.
Drop-ins welcome but you can make an appointment by calling Lorena at (310)562-0573 or online here:
When donating be sure to:
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In a world of emails and texts, when was the last time you sent a letter? Join us this summer as we rediscover the power of the postcard!
Think about someone who matters to you—a childhood mentor, a local politician, a relative who moved away, or even a star on the Walk of Fame. Stop by the library, create your own custom L.A.-themed postcard, and pen a brief, personal message. The library will take care of postage. All you have to do is write it.
(Because sometimes a letter to a politician says more than a headline).
