Viva Poetry – A Lummis Day Event

The library has had a Lummis Day associated poetry event each year for several years now and this year is no exception (my what a lot of years).  This year’s event is a celebratory reading by poets included in the anthology Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond.  Included in the event are:

• Erika Ayón
• Luis Campos
• Larry Colker
• Jawanza Dumisani
• Jamie Asaye Fitzgerald
• Charlotte Innes
• Ron Koertge
• & special guest poet Phoebe Ozuna.  

The event will be held on Saturday, May 30 beginning at 3:00 and everyone is welcome.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the anthology check out this LA Times write up of it: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-in-wide-awake-suzanne-lummis-gathers-the-poets-of-los-angeles-20150421-story.html 

Events for the Week of May 18…

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Asian Cinema Showing on Monday (5/18) at 5:30 R-Rated film
• STAR Reader on Wednesday (5/20) at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (5/21) at 3:00
• Fun with Tablets program also on Thursday at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (5/22) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (5/23) at 2:00
• Arroyo Book Club 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.

TOW (& Answer)...

The question this week was what is efflorescence?  Efflorescence, to quote the source, “is the process in which a crystalline hydrated solid loses water of crystallization to the air.  A powdery deposit is gradually formed.”

The question (& answer) were taken from p. 85 of The Facts on File Dictionary of Chemistry by John Daintith.  The book was published by Checkmark Books in 1999.

The Language of Food

In The Language of Food, Dan Jurafsky takes a linguistic look at food.  What do the words we use for various food items tell us about the origins of the item in question?  What do the words used on a menu tell you about what you’ll be paying for the meal?  What does toast have to do with making a toast? Jurafsky discusses all of this and more in this intriguing book.

Recommended for those with an interest in food, food history, or the study of linguistics.  Fascinating.

History of Highland Park…

Today I bring you 4 pictures of Occidental (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520226.pdf).  They range from a picture of the original Boyle Heights building (after it was destroyed by fire) to pictures of the original Highland Park site to a (pre-build) picture of the current site.  These are all newspaper photos so they are a bit grainy but still interesting. 

Fortunes of the Imperium

Fortunes of the Imperium by Jody Lynn Nye was a book that I kept thinking I would stop reading all the way up to the end.  The principal problem for me was that it has a social structure that I completely disapprove of --- basically an emperor and a ruling class of aristocrats that, while completely self-absorbed ninnies, are worshiped by “ordinary” humans.  Despite this I kept reading because I was curious about how certain plot points would resolve and in the end found that I had read the whole book.  Plot wise we have a vaguely Wooster like character who is sent to a neighboring sector of space to find out why trade is backed up.  There is a group of merchants who have been imprisoned for smuggling and are facing the death penalty.  There is power hungry political adviser.  There is an aristocratic girl fleeing from the importunities of a caddish non-aristocrat. And in the end (spoiler) everything works out well for our hero.

While I still really don’t like the social structure in the book and find that the people/aliens portrayed are far too contemporary for a time so far in the future that Earth is referred to as “lost Earth” I would recommend it to readers’ who like plot heavy SF.

Events for the Week of May 11…

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Asian Cinema Showing on Monday (5/11) at 5:30
• Little Ones’ Storytime on Wednesday (5/13) --- sessions at 10:30 & 11:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (5/14) at 3:00
• Fun with Tablets program also on Thursday at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (5/15) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (5/16) at 2:00
• Resume Review Session also on Saturday 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.

Trivia of the Week...

This week’s question is what is efflorescence?

The First Word

In The First Word Christine Kenneally explores the state of research into the question of the origins of language.  She breaks her book into four parts.  The first part, Language is not a Thing, takes a particular look at the work of 4 scientists noted for their work in the exploration of language.  In If You Have Human Language she explores the suite of attributes that combine to form language in humans and traces where they came from as well as who else (of a non-human nature) possesses each trait.  In What Evolves? she explores evolution in the context of language and finally in Where Next? she hypothesizes about the future of research into the origins of language.

All in all it was a very interesting book, particularly if you haven’t considered the question of language origination before.  She was a tad repetitious but that is really my only quibble with the book.  I would recommend it to anyone with a beginner’s interest in the question.

TOW (& Answer)...

The question was what do you know about Erichthonius?  To answer I’m going to quote entirely from the source:

Erichthonius was a son of Hephaestus by Gaea or Atthis and was a half-serpent, half man.  Athena became his guardian and concealed him in a chest which she put Agraulos, Pandrosos, and Herse to guard. She forbade them to open the chest, but they did, and, observing the child in the form of a serpent (or entwined with serpents), they were thrown into madness and flung themselves from the acropolis or into the sea.

The question (& answer) came from p. 138 of the Dictionary of Classical Mythology by Robert E. Bell.  The book was published in 1982 by ABC-Clio.

May’s Electronic Resource of the Month…

The Electronic Resource of the Month for May is Indie California.  Indie California is a collection of e-books by California authors, written via the LAPL Writes program in Los Angeles and similar programs at other public libraries throughout California.  

You can access Indie California through BiblioBoard.  Find BiblioBoard on the Library’s eMedia web page (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/e-media).  Once you’re in BiblioBoard you’ll want to look at the Modules section for the Indie California link.  

The Indie California collection is divided into sub-collections including Children’s, Young Adult, Romance, Nonfiction, etc.  Give it a try and see what aspiring California authors are writing.

Events for the Week of May 4…

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Playing with Numerical Data on Tuesday (5/5) at 12:00
• Teen Council Meeting also on Tuesday at 4:00
• Little Ones’ Storytime on Wednesday (5/6) --- sessions at 10:30 & 11:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Thursday (5/7) at 3:00
• Fun with Tablets program also on Thursday at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (5/8) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (5/9) 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.

Websites I Like…

Hiring a contractor and want to check out their license?  Need to see if your cosmetologist is properly credentialed?  Take advantage of BreEZe (https://www.breeze.ca.gov/), the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs License Verification Page.  You may use this page to check the license of a company or individual who has a license issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs, including any disciplinary or administrative actions.  Very handy.

Library Events in May…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library has a number of interesting events planned in May.  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:

- - - - - - - - - - 
5/5 @ 12:00
Playing with Numerical Data
Come learn a variety of ways to deal with & extract meaning from large data sets.

5/5 @ 4:00
Teen Council Meeting
Teens come put your own personal stamp on the library.

5/11 @ 5:30
Asian Cinema Night
Join us for an Asian themed movie.  Call the branch for details.

5/16 @ 2:00
Resume Review
Get feedback on your resume from an impartial outsider.

5/18 @5:30
Asian Cinema Night
Join us for an Asian themed movie.  Call the branch for details.

5/23 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
The Arroyo Book Club will discuss Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Warrior Woman. Stop by the library earlier in the month for a copy and join us.

5/28 @ 6:00
eMedia at the Library
Come learn about the variety of eMedia items available for you to access with your library card.  Bring any questions you have.

5/30 @ 11:00
Family Storytime
Join us for a celebration of Asian American & Pacific Island Heritage Month as we read stories from the region & make something special.

5/30 @ 3:00
Lummis Poetry Event
Join us for a celebration of poetry.


- - - - - - - - - -

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

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.  Please note that there will be no storytime on 5/20 & 5/27 as the program takes a short hiatus.

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