Events for the Week of January 14…

I'm off tomorrow so let me post next week's events a bit early...

Things going on at the library the week of 1/14 include:

• Teen Council Meeting on Tuesday (1/15) at 4:00
• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/16) at 10:30
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• LACMA Art Class for Kids & Families on Thursday (1/17) at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/18) at 3:30
• Library Web Tools & The Internet Class on Saturday (1/19) at 2:00
• Friendly Scrabble Competition also 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.

Dark Lord

Dark Lord by Jamie Thomson is a mid grade book (for ~ grades 5-10) that is quite clever (and dare I say, cute).  It tells the tale of your typical scaly skinned, horned & tusked, evil genius, dark lord who finds himself trapped in the body of an ordinary 12-year-old boy (from our version of Earth) and what he does to try to recover his former glory.    I quite enjoyed it.

Slow Apocalypse

Slow Apocalypse by John Varley starts with the release of a bacteria that fixes petroleum (makes it unusable) and moves from that global catastrophe down to a close look at the consequences for one group of people in Los Angeles.  The book really got me thinking about the fragility of our way of life here in the city and wondering what I would do if anything of a similarly catastrophic nature occurred in real life. 

This book is one I would recommend though I found the ending to pat and “happy” especially in light of the way the story had gone in the preceding 9/10ths of the book.

Trivia of the Week...

What are some traditional wedding customs from Bohemia?

Websites I Use…

Well I recently finished the book Slow Apocalypse by Varley.  This is a book that gets you thinking seriously about what you would need to do to survive a disaster.  To successfully plan you need information and one place you can find that type of information is on the Ready LA (http://www.readyla.com/index.php) website.  This is a disaster preparedness website put together by the city.  Here you will find you will find:

1. Disaster awareness preparation links for earthquakes, fires, severe weather & flooding, terrorism, public health, and hazardous materials just to name a few.
2. Emergency information for disabled persons, seniors, children, schools, businesses, families, pet owners, etc. 
3. Information on recovery assistance, utility shut-offs, communications, disaster planning, emergency videos, and emergency supply kits.
4. In addition there are links to Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Red Cross as well as a listing of police/fire stations, hospitals, utility companies, and pertinent city services within your designated zip code.

 Check it out and make yourself a concrete plan.

TOW (and Answer)….

This week’s question was who is/was Dona Petranilla Feliz?  Dona Petranilla Feliz was the daughter of Don Feliz the owner of Rancho Los Feliz and, as the story goes, currently haunts Griffith Park.  According to the aforementioned story, Don Feliz died when Petranilla (who was blind) was 16.  He left the estate in the hands of Don Antonio Colonel in the belief that he would look after her.  He did not do this, leaving Petranilla to fend for herself instead.  Petranilla cursed the unscrupulous guardian for this and misfortune began befalling anyone associated with the estate.

The question (and answer) were taken from p. 58-59 of Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Los Angeles by Jeff Dwyer.  This book was published in 2007 by Pelican Publishing Company.

Events for the Week of January 7…

Things going on at the library this week include:

• Baby & Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (1/9) at 10:30
• Computer Basics Class on Wednesday at 12:00
• LACMA Art Class for Teens also on Wednesday at 4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (1/11) at 3:30

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.

Save the Day...

We'll be trying for Telescope Night again this month.  Join us on 1/24 at 6:00 and take a gander at the night sky through a telescope courtesy of the Sidewalk Astronomers (see blog entry for previous attempt here).  Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us this time.

LearningExpress Library…

The LearningExpress Library database offers “online interactive practice exams covering adult basic, academic, job related, civil service, real estate skills and more. It also includes ESL Spanish Basic Skills Course.”  Let me hasten to add that it offers a myriad of similar things aimed at the high school, middle school, and even elementary school student in your family. 

Take a gander at the available learning centers.  Within each category you will find a host of practice tests, courses, & ebooks for your use.  You will access it from the library’s Research & Homework page (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/research-and-homework#L).  If you are logging in from a non-library computer you will need your library card number.