Music in the Library

Join us for an afternoon of Classical Guitar Music with David Margolis on Saturday, June 11 at 2:00.  

David Margolis is a member of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music faculty. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Classical Guitar from the Cleveland Institute of Music and his Masters Degree from the Conservatorium Maastricht. Recent performances include Concierto de Aranjuez with the Rheinische Philharmonie, “Jason Vieaux and Friends” Concert, Koblenz Guitar Octet, and the Spanish Day musical theatre production.

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question comes to us from the world of herpetology… what proportion of snakes are venomous?

Events for the Week of May 15….

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Make it Monday featuring a craft project on Monday (5/16) at 4:00
• Club de Lectores meets on Tuesday (5/17) at 6:30
• Toddler Storytime for those aged 1-3 on Wednesday (5/18) at 10:30
• PreSchool Storytime for those aged 3-5 also on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime for those 0-12 months on Thursday (5/19) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• LA OIC Computer Boot Camp on Friday (5/20) from 1:00-4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab also on Friday at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (5/21) at 2:00
• Wide Awake, a Lummis Day Viva Poetry event, also on Saturday from 3:00-5:00

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.

Primates of Park Avenue

I liked the premise of the book Primates of Park Avenue by Wednesday Martin more then I liked the actual book.  The premise is that Martin, an anthropology/primatology researcher, would turn a field working eye on her Upper East Side New York neighborhood.  The reality is that Martin apparently went “native” quite early in her experiment and what we get is the personal reminisces of someone living a rather indefensible style of life.  The book is instructive in the sense that we get a picture of how completely different the lives of these economically rewarded people are from our own lives but I was left with no empathy for their struggles and no respect for the author as a scientist.

Not really recommended though those with a prurient interest in the lives of the women of the 1% might find it interesting.

Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond

Each year we have a Lummis Day Poetry Event at our library.  This year’s event revolves around the book Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond (http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Awake-Angeles-Beyond-Pacific/dp/1892184036) and features Jawanza Dumisani, Marsha de la O, Conney Williams, with special guest Phil Taggart.  

The event will take place on Saturday, May 21 from 3 to 5 pm.  Please plan to join us for a poetically enriching experience.  

Culture Shock Los Angeles

(A Made in LA Program)

On Saturday, June 18 at 3:00 we will enjoy a performance by Culture Shock at our library.  

Culture Shock Los Angeles is a local Hip Hop dance organization dedicated to Dance Education, Community Outreach, Professional Entertainment, and the preservation of the Hip Hop Culture. Join us for an interactive demo - to get your creative juices flowing and discover dance.

Check out Culture Shock’s website for more information about their organization as well as some video clips of their dance styling (http://cultureshockla.org/). 

Find more information about the Made in LA series of programs taking place in library branches all across the city on the library's page here (http://www.lapl.org/madeinla).

Events for the Week of May 8….

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Make it Monday featuring a building block challenge on Monday (5/9) at 4:00
• Manga Art Class of Teens on Tuesday (5/10) at 4:00
• Computer Basic Class also on Tuesday at 6:00
• Toddler Storytime for those aged 1-3 on Wednesday (5/11) at 10:30
• PreSchool Storytime for those aged 3-5 also on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime for those 0-12 months on Thursday (5/12) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (5/13) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (5/14) at 2:00
• Shrinky Dink program (in honor of Fahrenheit 451) 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.

May’s eResource of the Month…

The electronic resource of the month for the month of May is the Testing & Education Reference Center.  This database is an excellent source of school & career prep tools.  On it you will find over 300 practice tests and courses, information on over 4,000 accredited schools, e-books containing study materials, a scholarship search, a resume builder, and career modules with subjects from career change to salary negotiations.  If you have a test of any kind… standard SAT or GRE, new job placement test, career specific test, and so on, and so on… then this is the resource for you.

The Testing & Education Reference Center is accessible from any computer though you will need to have your library card & PIN handy if you are not on a library computer.  Access it by going to the library’s web page (http://www.lapl.org/), clicking into the Research & Homework section, and then scrolling down the alphabetical list of resources to the T’s (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#T).  

Highland Park History….

This article (http://dbase1.lapl.org/webpics/calindex/documents/10/520397.pdf) from 2/26/1986 discusses the early days of Franklin High School and includes (a very blurry) picture of the old building.   Learn that in 1922 the Drill team and the Band both placed first in the all city contest among other facts.

Luis J. Rodriguez Speaks

Luis Rodriguez, best-selling author of Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA and Poet Laureate of Los Angeles will be in our branch to read from both his poetry and prose, and share his thoughts about how his life in LA shaped his creative work.  

Interested in a bit of a preview? Check out this blog entry from Rodriguez about Why Poetry Matters (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/why-poetry-matters).  

The event will take place on Saturday, May 28 at 1:00.  Everyone is invited to attend.

Events for the Week of May 1….

Events going on at the library during the week include…

• Make it Monday featuring Hawaiian stories and lei construction on Monday (5/2) at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime for those aged 1-3 on Wednesday (5/4) at 10:30
• PreSchool Storytime for those aged 3-5 also on Wednesday at 3:00
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime for those 0-12 months on Thursday (5/5) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (5/6) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (5/7) 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.

The Annihilation Score

In The Annihilation Score Charles Stross continues his Laundry Files series but switches viewpoints.  Here we get a story from Mo, wife of our previous series narrator.  Mo is a combat epistemologist who plays the violin --- a very special, possessed violin made of bone & capable of killing demons.  She works for a secret British agency known as the laundry and has lately been put in charge of creating a department to deal with an outbreak of superheroes that comes with a complimentary outbreak of super villains.   In the meantime her violin is beginning to require more and more from her.  

This is an exciting book that does not lack for interesting plot elements.  My quibble with it was that it was a bit too predictable.  It was kind of easy to figure out, in advance of the narrator, who  the villain behind the piece was though I was less on target with guessing motivation.  All in all definitely a book for fans of the series and I think accessible for those who haven’t been following the series.  Better, in fact, then some of the previous series books.  Give it a try.

Shrinky-Dinks & Fahrenheit 451

Memorialize your favorite book & turn the power of heat to good in our Fahrenheit 451 themed shrinky-dink program.  Join us on Saturday, May 14 at 2:00 and create a fun charm.  

Everyone is welcome.

Library Events in May…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

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

- - - - - - - - - - 
5/2 @ 4:00
Make It Mondays: Hawaiian Stories & Leis
Listen to stories of Hawaii & make a beautiful lei.

5/3 @ 6:30
Club de Lectores

Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

5/9 @ 4:00
Make It Mondays: Building Blocks
Come wow everyone with your solution to the building block challenge.

5/10 @ 4:00
Manga Art Class for Teens
Learn how to draw your own manga style art.

5/10 @ 6:00
Computer Basics Class
This class is for the computer neophyte.  Join us as we learn to manipulate a computer, navigate through and use common software programs, and explore the Internet.

5/14 @ 2:00
Big Read: Shrinky Dinks & Fahrenheit 451
Memorialize your favorite book & turn the power of heat to good in our Fahrenheit 451 themed shrinky-dink program.

5/16 @ 4:00
Make It Mondays: Craft
Join us and make something interesting.

5/17 @ 6:30
Club de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

5/20 from 1:00-4:00
LA OIC Computer Boot Camp
This program puts low cost computers in the hands of low income people.

5/21 @ 3:00
Viva Poetry! A Lummis Day Event
Join us for our annual Lummis Day celebration of poetry.

5/23 @ 4:00
Make It Mondays: Building Blocks
Come wow everyone with your solution to the building block challenge.

5/26 @ 6:00
Word for Beginners
Join us for an introduction to MS Word.

5/28 @ 1:00
Author Talk by Luis J. Rodriguez
Come listen to the thoughts of LA’s Poet Laureate.

5/28 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a lively discussion of the Big Read book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

5/29 @ 2:00
Zen Out & Color
Relax! Mellow out! Reduce Stress...with COLORING FOR ADULTS! It's good for body and mind. Coloring patterns & instruments provided.

- - - - - - - - - -

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

Toddler Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 10:30
Little Ones’ 3 and under & their grownups are invited to join us for stories, music, & games.  

Preschool Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 3:00 
Get ready for kindergarten with stories, puppets, songs, stretches, and rhymes for children ages 3-5.

Baby Storytime - - - Thursdays at 10:30 
Bounces, rhymes and songs for prewalkers (age 0-12 months) and their caregivers.

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. 

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.