Highland Park History (The First Store)…

The first store in Highland Park was located on the corner of Ave. 56 & Monte Vista.  Run by J. P. Stocksdale it opened in 1891 and incorporated a Post Office a year later.  Check out this newspaper article from the California Index for a blurry photo of the building.

So... re TOD...

I have decided that doing Trivia of the Day is a bit too overwhelming to the overall content of the blog.  In other words TOD is drowning everything else out.  Consequently I will now begin doing Trivia of the Week (TOW) with maybe a bonus trivia thrown in randomly.

TOD (answer)...

To answer the question ---> What does the palm represent when used in western art? -- I'm going to quote directly from the book here so:

In antiquity palm leaves were used to signify victory, especially military triumph, and were bestowed upon the illustrious by personifications of Victory or Fame.

Christianity adopted the palm for martyrs who had triumphed over death.  During the Flight into Egypt the fruit of the palm tree fed Joseph and the Virgin, who is shown at her death being presented with a palm. The palm is also associated with Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, when the people "took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried Hosanna: 'Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord'".  This event is remembered in the Christian celebration of Palm Sunday.

Question and answer were taken from page 166 of The Dictionary of Symbols in Western Art by Sarah Carr-Gomm.  The book was published by Facts on File in 1995.

Your Opinion...

We are always seeking your opinions about the books, movies, music, etc. we should buy; about the types of programs we should offer; about the kinds of classes we should provide; really about anything related to our services. 

If you have an opinion you would like to share, please let us know in the comments.  You can always drop by and talk to us or give us a call too, of course.  Check the side panel for contact information.

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question ---> What does the palm represent when used in western art?

TOD (answer)....

To answer the question what is Charlie Sheen's original name:
        - Carlos Irwin Estevez

I found the question and answer in The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012.  This book is published by World Almanac Books and is copyrighted 2012.  I opened to page 242.

Websites I use…

I thought I would periodically highlight a website that I have used with patrons at the reference desk. 

So one question I get asked from time to time is who painted that mural in the parking lot & what’s it supposed to be about?  The site I turn to for this question is http://www.muralconservancy.org/.  This site dedicates itself to, among other things, documenting the murals of Los Angeles.  Once on the site you can browse through mural images or search for one you are particularly looking for.  Follow this link to find the entry for the mural in the library’s parking lot.  It’s by Luis Becerra and is titled Libraries Educate, Governments Make Cutbacks – nice images of it are included as well. 

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question  --->  What is Charlie Sheen's original name?

TOD (Answer)....

& now for an answer:
     - The patron saint of gardeners is Adelard.  But since there's actually more then one we have to also accept Fiacre & Phocas as valid answers.

The question and answer were found in the book Patron Saints by Michael Freze, S.F.O.  The book was published by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing in1992. I opened the book to page 66.

Arroyo Book Club Pick for September….

The Arroyo Book Club will be reading the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot for our September meeting.  To quote from the library catalog’s summary: “The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.”   Clearly this is a book with the potential for discussion on a large number of issues.  Stop by the library any time this month to pick up a copy of the book and then join us on September 22 at 3:00 to share your thoughts.

Trivia of the Day....

For today's question --->  who is the patron saint of gardeners?

TOD (Answer)...

To answer the question ---> who was the 1958 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry?  Bonus points if you know what for.

      - Frederick Sanger.  He was awarded his prize for his discovery of the structure of Insulin.

The question (and answer) were found in the book Discover Science Almanac edited by Bryan Bunch, Jenny Tesar, and the Editors of Discover Magazine.  The book was published by Stonesong Press in 2003.  I opened to page 325.

Events for the Week of August 27...

Things going on at the library this week include:

• Introduction to Word Processing Class on Wednesday (8/29) at 10:00
• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (8/29) at 10:30
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids and Families on Thursday (8/30) at 4:00
• The Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (8/31) at 3:30

You can always check the searchable calendar of events on our website to keep abreast of programming at any of the branches of the Los Angeles Public Library.

Trivia of the Day...

Today's question is a straight up trivial fact question ---> To wit, who was the 1958 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry?  Bonus points if you know what for.