The Old Deep and Dark

The Old Deep and Dark by Ellen Hart is another entry in the Jane Lawless mystery series.  In this volume Jane is helping her father investigate the mystery surrounding the death of a well-known country music star with some long standing secrets.  Simultaneously she is helping her good friend Cordelia whose recently purchased theater seems to have been a sort of mecca for murder (3 skeletons are turned up in various hidden nooks and crannies in the theater).  Hart always switches viewpoints between her characters in her books --- something I found a bit annoying here as all of the characters came across as seriously self-centered and annoying.  I even found myself rooting for characters I knew to be innocent to be suspected of the crime because I kind of wanted them to suffer.

All in all a good solid mystery albeit peopled with some characters who don’t exactly make you want to care what happens to them.  I would recommend it to someone who was already a fan of the series.

Events for the Week of March 9…

The events going on at the library this week include…

• Make it Monday: Take a building block challenge (3/9) at 4:00
• Little Ones’ Storytime on Wednesday (3/11) --- sessions at 10:30 & 11:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Fun with Tablets program on Thursday (3/12) at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (3/13) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (3/14) at 2:00
• Come see what eMedia options are available to you with your library card, Saturday 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.

Trivia of the Week...

This week’s question asks you to plumb your vocabulary… how many words can you think of that mean the same thing as produce (consider it as a verb)?

March’s Electronic Resource of the Month…

The eResource of the month for March is one of my favorites --- the Oxford English Dictionary or OED.  This dictionary is marvelous fun to use even if you’re not in the market for a word definition.  I’ll admit that anytime I have a few moments to kill and nothing specific to do I’ll log on to the dictionary and just do random searches on words that catch my eye.  I particularly like to read the etymology sections about the words to find out where they came from.  I also enjoy reading the articles the dictionary puts out periodically on various aspects of the English language.  All in all this a reference I recommend for fun as well as for those who need to know what a particular word means.

You can access the OED from the library’s Research & Homework page (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#O).  You will need to have your library card if you are not using a library computer.  

So… go to the database and look up the most interesting word you can think of and then look up the least interesting word and see how interesting the plain little words we use really are.

TOW (& Answer)...

This week’s question was when did the state of California begin issuing license plates with bonus points for describing what the first plates looked like.  The state of California began issuing license plates on March 22, 1905.  The plates for the years 1905-1913 were known as prestate plates since the state only assigned numbers leaving the vehicle owner to make their own plates.  In 1914 the state actually began to manufacture plates.  They were basic blue on white plates.

The question (& answer) were taken from p. 271 of State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Bejnamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer.  The book was published in 1994 by Greenwood Press.

Arroyo Book Club Pick for March….

In March the Arroyo Book Club will be participating in the Big Read Program (find information about that program here: http://www.neabigread.org/) and reading Luis Alberto Urrea’s Into the Beautiful North.  The book is described in our catalog with:

Nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop in her Mexican village and dreams about her father, who journeyed to the US to find work. Recently, it has dawned on her that he isn't the only man who has left town. In fact, there are almost no men in the village--they've all gone north. While watching The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli decides to go north herself and recruit seven men--her own "Siete Magníficos"--to repopulate her hometown and protect it from the bandidos who plan on taking it over.

Filled with unforgettable characters and prose as radiant as the Sinaloan sun, INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH is the story of an irresistible young woman's quest to find herself on both sides of the fence.

It certainly sounds interesting.  Stop by the library for a copy of the book (yours to keep while supplies last) and plan to join us for discussion on March 28 at 3:00.

Finally... Find the Big Read’s information about the book and a reading guide here: http://www.neabigread.org/books/intothebeautifulnorth/ 

Events for the Week of March 2…

The events going on at the library this week include…

• Make it Monday: Celebrate Dr Seuss’ Birthday (3/2) at 4:00
• Little Ones’ Storytime on Wednesday (3/4) --- sessions at 10:30 & 11:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Fun with Tablets program on Thursday (3/5) at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (3/6) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (3/7) at 2:00
• UCLA Gluck Percussion Ensemble performs on Saturday 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.

Exo

Steven Gould continues his excellent Jumper series with Exo.  This book focuses on Cent, the second generation in a family of people who can teleport.  Cent has suffered romantic disappointment and so turns her not inconsiderable talent and attention to the question of using her abilities to get into space.  She recruits people who can help (clearly she’ll need a space suit of some kind for example) and in no time at all cracks the problem.  In the meantime her family continues to battle against a cadre of villains, whose overall motivation beyond some kind of weird revenge is unclear, and copes with the age related illness suffered by Cent’s grandmother.  

The book brings us realistic characters, interesting & mostly believable plot points, and a thoughtful presentation of the questions that need to be considered to actually do what the characters are doing.  If you disregard the actual teleportation ability, the science questions raised & answered in this book are dead on.  I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good SF adventure and even to many who just like a good adventure.  The book is readable even if you haven’t read the other titles in the series. 

Websites I Like…

Do you ever wonder about copyright?  Just what types of things are you allowed and not allowed to do in the realm of information?  Try (http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/col/bruinsuccess/01/01.cfm) for a handy, easy to read tutorial on those questions.  This is aimed at UCLA students so you will find that it has a distinctly local (to UCLA) slant but it does provide an in depth (& comprehensible) look at copyright, patents, & trademarks.  Educate yourself.

I Hunt Killers

In Barry Lyga’s I Hunt Killers we meet Jazz Dent.  Jazz is the son of a notorious serial killer.  His father wanted Jazz to follow in his footsteps so in consequence Jazz had a very atypical and alarming childhood.  In this book the father has been caught and is in prison while Jazz is living with his demented grandmother and trying his best NOT to follow in his father’s footsteps.  The story starts with the arrival of a new serial killer, one who seems to be paying homage to the elder Dent.  Jazz takes it upon himself to try to find and catch this killer.   All in all a very readable book, though you will have to overlook some violent serial killeresque scenes.

I will say that I began wondering, mid-book, about these people who glorify serial killers.  The point of it really escapes me and after a few of the descriptions in this book I was beginning to be worried about the author.  Anyway, though I finished the book I won’t be reading the sequel.

Library Events in March…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library has a number of interesting events planned in March.  I thought I’d take a minute and give you a run down so you could plan ahead.  Let’s start with the non-repeating events:

- - - - - - - - - - 
3/1 @ 2:00
Resume Review
Looking for outside input on your resume. Bring it to our review session for an impartial critique.

3/7 @ 3:00
UCLA Gluck Percussion Ensemble
Join us for a musical performance featuring percussion instruments of all types.  Sure to be excellent!

3/14 @ 2:00
eMedia from the Library
Learn about the vast array of materials you can access electronically with your library card.

3/17 @ 4:00
Teen Council Meeting
Teens come put your own personal stamp on the library.

3/21 @ 2:00
Blue Submarine Sea Creatures
Discover underwater animals in this exciting program for pre & elementary school aged kids.

3/25 @ 6:00
Introduction to Genealogy
Learn the basics about using the Ancestry Database for genealogical research.

3/28 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a lively discussion of the book Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea.  This book is part of the Big Read Program (find more information about the book as well as a reading guide here: http://www.neabigread.org/books/intothebeautifulnorth/) which means you will be able to keep the book for yourself (while supplies last).

3/28 @ 4:00
Life on the Line : A Documentary
Join us for a screening of the documentary film Life on the Line.  "This half-hour documentary follows a year in the life of Kimberly and her family, exposing the challenges of immigration and the U.S./Mexico border through the eyes of one child."  Shown in conjunction with our Book Club Discussion of the Big Read book Into the Beautiful North

- - - - - - - - - -

Each month the library also has a number of ongoing classes & events.  They are:

Make it Mondays - - - Mondays at 4:00
Join us each Monday for a hands on activity.  In March we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, meeting a construction block challenge, creating toothbrush art, and making giant bubbles.

Little Ones’ Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 10:30 & 11:30
Little Ones’ 3 and under & their grownups are invited to join us for stories, music, & games.  We offer two sessions, pick the one that is convenient for you.

STAR Volunteer Readers - - - Available on Wednesdays at 3:00 on 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.

Fun With Tablets - - - Thursdays at 4:00
People of all ages are invited to join us as we explore tablet computers by accomplishing an interesting task.  If you have a project in mind suggest it & we might give it a try.

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.

Trivia of the Week...

This week’s question is when did the state of California begin issuing license plates?  Bonus points for describing what the first plates looked like.

Events for the Week of February 23…

The events going on at the library this week include…

• Make it Monday: Construct a Bookmark on Monday (2/23) at 4:00
• Movie Night also on Monday at 5:30
• Little Ones’ Storytime on Wednesday (2/25) --- sessions at 10:30 & 11:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Fun with Tablets program on Thursday (2/26) at 4:00
• Telescope Night (weather permitting) also on Thursday --- starts at 5:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (2/27) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (2/28) at 2:00
• Arroyo Book Club meets on Saturday at 3:00
• Resume Review on Sunday (3/1) 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.

TOW (& Answer)....

The week’s question was who was mayor of Los Angeles in 1798 with bonus points for naming an achievement of that individual.  The Mayor of Los Angeles from 1798-1799 was Guillermo Soto.  His major achievement was construction of a town juzado or jail.

The question (& answer) were taken from p. 58 of An Illustrated History of Mexican Los Angeles 1781-1985. The book was written by Antonio Rios-Bustamante and Pedro Castillo and published by the University of California in 1986.