Burbank Library Blog

2018 Staff Recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Janae) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 02:47:00 +0000

Here are a few things we read and loved in 2018:
(Note - Not all of the books were published in 2018, but we did enjoy them this year)

I Walk with Vanessa

by Kerascoët

A beautifully illustrated wordless picture book explores the power of one child to inspire others to stand together to help another. This book was so powerful to me with its message of kindness, caring, and acceptance that I shared it with the teachers of Thomas Edison Elementary. Every teacher of the school shared the book in their classrooms– bringing together a school unity.

-- recommended by a senior librarian

One of Us is Lying

by Karen M. McManus
On Monday afternoon five students walk into detention, but only four walk out alive. Simon, the outcast at the helm of the high school’s brutal (and always true) gossip app has been murdered, and he had dirt on all four students in detention with him. Everyone has secrets, but how far is someone willing to go to protect them? This is The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl. Highly recommended to all John Hughes fans, and those who love mild suspense that can be devoured in one sitting
-- recommended by a librarian

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

by Otessa Moshfegh

My favorite book this year was about a young woman who decides to hibernate for a year after a bad breakup and the death of her parents. She accomplishes this with the use of a copious amount of drugs prescribed by a truly terrible psychiatrist. It’s a very dark comedy with a refreshingly unlikable protagonist, and an ending that took my breath away.

-- recommended by a librarian

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

by David Dosa, MD, MPH
Dr. Dosa is head of a Steer House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island. His book tells the story of Oscar, a cat who showed up one day and seemed to have an uncanny ability of knowing when a patient was near death. Oscar would go to each room and sit with the patient until they passed. This is a heart-warming story of a cat with a mission.
-- recommended by a library clerk

The Three Musketeers

by Alexandre Dumas

I remember the look on the face of a teen when I handed them a copy of The Three Musketeers from their school reading list (this book is 1 ½ inches thick). So in looking for an audiobook to lull me to sleep, I downloaded the audiobook from Libby. Boy, was I wrong. The story moves right along as d’Artagnan travels to Paris to join the King’s Musketeers, falls in love with Constance, and tries to stop the Cardinal Richelieu’s evil plot. I felt like I traveled with d’Artagnan to England to get the diamond studs back in time for the costume ball as the narrator was quite good with his performance of multiple characters.

-- recommended by a supervising librarian

Julián Is a Mermaid

by Jessica Love

While riding home on the New York subway with his abuela, Julián is startled to see three beautiful women dressed as mermaids. It inspires him to dress up at home, and his abuela surpises him by taking him to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade (which is a real thing!). The artwork is wonderfully detailed, showcasing cool New York people and a diverse city scene. While the text is minimal, love and acceptance shine through the pages.

-- recommended by a children’s librarian

What We're Reading: A New Book on the Culture of Modern Parenting

noreply@blogger.com (RTKO) — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:34:00 +0000

Small Animals: Parenthood in the Age of Fear, by Kim Brooks

I picked up this book because I had read Sasha Abramsky’s recent Jumping at Shadows: The Triumph of Fear and the End of the American Dream. As part of his broad survey of the ascendance of fear in American culture, one of Abramsky’s chapters was on the contemporary fears of parents. His argument is that many of those fears are irrational and that we have lost the ability to objectively calculate risk in the balance of our decision making. Kim Brooks explores this more extensively in Small Animals, concluding that our fears have made a job that is “nearly impossible even harder.” Her subject seems to me one that we should all be concerned about, whether we have children or not. How we support the raising of children, and how they are parented in our society is, after all, crucial to the kind of future all of us will have.

Brooks's immersion in her subject was the result of a troubling personal experience. While visiting her parents in Virginia, she left her 4- year-old son Felix in the car playing a video game while she dashed in to the store on a brief errand. People took pictures of her son alone in the car and called the police. Brooks was charged with “contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” Filled with self-doubt and guilt, her experience caused her to ask herself: “Why have we bought into this assumption that the parent who is the most cautious, the most irrationally afraid, the most risk-averse, is the best or most loving parent?” In Small Animals she tries to answer this question, giving us a portrait of the current social landscape of parenting in America, a world where children are constantly watched and monitored. She believes that we have given up on the idea of childhood, that we have developed a culture of “conspicuous child rearing” and that parenting in America has become a new kind of secular religion. She seeks out experts who might help explain how we got to this place and shares what she learned with readers. Brooks observes that today parents are competitive and judgmental with one another about parenting choices when it seems that they might more naturally be supportive of each other, and they study—as if it were a giant school project, she says—how to give their children a competitive advantage in life from the day they are born. It reminded me of the current First 5 California commercial currently running that advises parents to “talk, read, and sing” to their infants—no doubt a good idea—but one that instills a fear of failure in not doing so, superimposing across the chest of an infant the words “Drop Out?”

Brooks writes, “Fear is neither wrong nor right. It is what it is. But in the end, it can’t give us the thing we most desire…control.” We can’t anticipate or avoid all the dangers and trials our children might face in life. And trying too hard to do so, not giving children a measure of autonomy and independence, and not letting them experience and learn from their own trials or failures, may have important costs for them as they grow to become teenagers and adults. Parenting is always a question of balance, of trade-offs, and Brooks thinks we have erred too much on the side of protection and caution--often irrationally so--and that rather than trusting our natural judgments and instincts, we have made parenting even more complicated than it is. This book offers an important challenge to our pervasive ideas about modern parenting, and will be of interest to all parents and to everyone interested in the culture of how children are being parented today.

What We're Reading: A new book challenges our acceptance of civilian casualties

noreply@blogger.com (RTKO) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 02:18:00 +0000

The Bodies in Person: An Account of Civilian Casualties in American Wars
by Nick McDonell

It has always seemed to me that convincing a nation to go to war, and to carry on a war, has depended less on the casus belli and the passions of the moment than a failure to understand what the costs of that decision will be. Some might say that we know, but lose sight of that in the anger of the moment, but governments euphemize and hide those costs as much as they can—before, during, and after a conflict, and usually find their citizens complicit, willing to be distanced, to be protected from the worst and even to be deceived, and unwilling to shoulder the guilt or the blame of the costs that come with their tacit assent or complacency. Perhaps the hardest to follow are the financial cost, which become obscured in budgets and buried in long-term deficits. And it is a cost not only of what was spent, but the cost of not spending it on things that were perhaps of greater urgency, maybe even things more important to national security.

Yes, we follow the death count of American soldiers, the extent of American wounded less so, and we honor with sanctimony and ceremony the service of those who have died and those who have survived without any real sense of what that combat experience was like and what its long-term costs will be psychologically and physically for those who served and for their families. We keep a count of the enemy dead, as if in some way our costs and losses are amended—and we are winning. Vietnam was famous for that. But we don’t think much about the costs of damage to a war-torn country’s infrastructure (we’ve got money, we can rebuild that) and perhaps least of all do we think about the lives lost of civilian non-combatants, the so-called inevitable collateral damage of what we like to convince ourselves these days are precise and limited air strikes and ground actions.

Afghan men carry the coffin of a civilian killed in a NATO air strike on the

outskirts of Jalalabad, August 11, 2014

Why this is so is the subject of The Bodies in Person. I picked up McDonell’s book after having read another book that attempted to change our perspective on how we add up the cost of war, Paul Thomas Chamberlin’s The Cold War’s Killing Fields: Rethinking the Long Peace. When we think of America’s costs in the Cold War, we think largely of the loss of American lives in the so-called “hot” wars where U.S. troops were on the ground, Korea and Vietnam. Generally, in recounting the era, we congratulate ourselves that World War III and the destruction of nuclear war was avoided between the superpowers. But we have left out of the calculation of our success the price that was paid by those in the Third World and post-colonial battlefields where the superpowers faced off against each other in their support of competing factions, the “proxy” wars and in which Chamberlin estimates as many as 20 million people died in various regional conflicts around the globe during the Cold War years.

McDonell isn’t naive. He is aware of the attitudes of other nations and of the enemy regarding civilian causalities, and how a less scrupulous enemy understands and exploits American rules of engagement. But his focus is not on the question of what others do, it is on what we should be doing, what is consistent with our moral values and beliefs. In a book that is part investigation and part philosophical rumination, he comes to the conclusion that the choice is absolute, that it's not one that can be temporized. His book is an extended argument against the military’s formula for deciding the number of acceptable civilian casualties involved in a potential military assault, what is known as the NCCV, the "Non-combatant Casualty Cutoff Value." It’s a kind of algorithm for deciding how many civilian casualties are acceptable in any given assault; its number may vary depending on the theater of action. If there are any anticipated collateral human costs beyond that number, the proposed military action must be approved at the very highest levels, the Secretary of Defense or the President of the United States. McDonell concludes that “The only non-combatant casualty cutoff value consistent with our values is zero.”

Reuters reported that 30 civilians were killed in the exchange of fire between

American troops and Taliban forces in Buz Kandahari village, November 3, 2016

The Bodies in Person tells you how he arrived at that conclusion. His narrative is built on the experience he encountered on the ground—at considerable risk—in Afghanistan and Iraq, meeting the proximate if not primary actors. His investigation often faces frequent official roadblocks and obfuscation, and this account is personal and at times stylistically self-conscious. McDonell has you meet up close both those implementing American policy regarding civilian casualties, along with representatives of the disparate groups charged with keeping—or failing to keep by omission or intent—credible statistics. We get portraits of the individuals who lost their lives and the families that have been left to deal with their loss. The monetary transactions may be the most unsettling, how families are compensated by the United States in “solatia” payments for a lost family member at $2500.00. But the most powerful, and inescapable conclusion of McDonnell’s inquiry is that for a nation that believes all men are created equal, we readily engage in behavior that makes it apparent that some lives are of more value to us than others. The lives of foreign civilian non-combatants for example. This is a book that in the end causes us not only to consider how we value the lives of others who may be caught up in the wars we wage, but it is one that forces us to ask ourselves just how much we believe in our foundational values.

One of the most infamous losses of civilian life occurred in

October of 2015 when a U.S. airstrike hit the hospital of Doc-

tors Without Borders in Kunduz, Afghanistan. 42 people lost

their lives.

McDonell’s narrative construction is a little unusual, but I’m not going to second guess it because I understand what he is trying to do here, and this seems to work to that purpose. We need to comprehend this on some imaginative and visceral level. It is not an accumulation of statistics that has meaning; it is understanding that what is a stake is a life. Readers are advised to read the “notes, sources, and additional context” at the back of the book after reading each chapter, as they add significant elaborations to the narrative. McDonell focuses readers on an issue that is fundamental to our conduct of war, one that our recent official conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrates we desperately need to confront,and one that is central to our sense of who we are as Americans.

This Week at the Library (Nov. 11 - 17, 2018)

noreply@blogger.com (Janae) — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Scroll to the bottom of the post for Storytime schedule.

Sunday (Nov. 11) & Monday (Nov. 12)

All Burbank Libraries will be closed Sunday, November 11 and Monday, November 12 in honor of Veterans Day.

Tuesday (Nov. 13)

Moon Watch
6:30pm, Central Library
Members of the Sidewalk Astronomers will set up telescopes for a close-up look at the moon and any visible planets.

Grades 6-7 Book Club
7pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
This club is for enrolled teens only. This month the grades 6-7 Book Club will be discussing The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Contact Anarda at 818-238-5620 for more information.

Wednesday (Nov. 14)

Board of Library Trustees Meeting
5:30pm, Central Library
Established by Burbank Municipal Code, the seven Council-appointed members serve a four-year term. It is their mission to work with staff in an advisory capacity to ensure the optimum operation of the Burbank Library System, to represent community concerns and suggestions to the Library staff, to act as liaison between the Library and the City Council, and to represent and promote the Library and its undertakings.

Moon Watch
6:30pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
Members of the Sidewalk Astronomers will set up telescopes for a close-up look at the moon and any visible planets.

Grades 10-12 Book Club
7pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
This club is for enrolled teens only. This month the Grades 10-12 Book Club will be reading Get Even by Gretchen McNeil. Contact Anarda at 818-238-5620 for more information

Thursday (Nov. 15)

Puppy Tales Reading Practice (Full)
4:30pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
A read-aloud program for children in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade. Therapy dogs have been proven to help children build confidence in reading and improve communication skills. Parents can sign up their child at the Buena Vista Branch Children's Library or by calling 818-238-5630.

Bilingual Storytime - English/Spanish
6:30pm, Northwest Branch Library
Join us for a bilingual storytime with stories, songs, and rhymes in English and Spanish. There will be a short video at the end of the program.Vengan para una hora de cuentos bilingüe con cuentos, canciones, y rimas en inglés y español. Habrá un video corto al final del programa.

Friday (Nov. 16)

Friday Matinee -
2pm, Central Library
Three Identical Strangers tells the astonishing true story of three men who make the chance discovery, at the age of 19, that they are identical triplets, separated at birth and adopted to different parents. The trio's joyous reunion in 1980 catapults them to fame but it also sets in motion a chain of events that unearths an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes far beyond their own lives – a secret that goes to very heart of all human behavior. Rated PG-13. Runtime 96 minutes.

Thankful Turkey Craft for Kids
4pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
Feeling thankful? Drop in and create! No sign-ups needed for this fun, easy craft. Stop by the Storytime Room to create your own Thankful Turkey.

Holiday in the Park
5pm-9pm, Magnolia Park (Magnolia Blvd between Hollywood Way and Florence St.)
Kick off the holiday season in Burbank with this holiday street festival. Over 75 stores will be joining in on the celebration that stretches 8 blocks and 3 parking lots. The library, and other community organizations, will have a table in the street. Come and spin the prize wheel to win fabulous library prizes!

Saturday (Nov. 17)

Baby Party!
10am, Buena Vista Branch LibraryBaby Party! is an informal time for families with babies under 12 months (or pre-walkers) to read, play, explore and make new friends. Spend an hour together in the Storytime Room. Walk-ins welcome, no sign-ups required, but space is limited.

Music & Movement
10:15am, Central Library
A program for preschoolers and their families.Join us for a fun introduction to movement, coordination, rhythm, and dance! We'll be dancing using shaker eggs & scarves and listening to music.

Storytime Schedule

Baby Storytime (under age 12 months)

Tuesday at 10am, Northwest Branch Library

Toddler Storytime (under age 3)

~~Thursday at 10am, Buena Vista Branch Library~~ (FULL)
~~Friday at 10am, Buena Vista Branch Library~~ (FULL)
Friday at 10am, Central Library

Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)

Tuesday at 10am, Central Library
Wednesday at 10am, Northwest Branch Library

It's Election Day!

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 15:00:00 +0000

This Week at the Library (Nov. 4 - 10, 2018)

noreply@blogger.com (Janae) — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 20:00:00 +0000

Scroll to the bottom of the post for Storytime schedule

Tuesday (Nov. 6)

NaNoWriMo Write-in
6:30pm, Central Library
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel. Participants begin writing on November 1, working toward the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. Join with other writers to participate in a writing warm-up and enjoy 2 hours of distraction-free writing.

French Book Club
6:30pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
For more information, call Isabelle at 818-238-5620.

Wednesday (Nov. 7)

Teens Book Cafe
7pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
Coffee house treats and book-talking for teens. Bring whatever you’re reading... Stand up and tell others how amazing it is. That’s what we do at Book Café! ALSO: Find out who will be named as the top writers from "It's Written in the Stars..." the October writing challenge for teens. Prizes will be awarded, so don’t miss it!

Thursday (Nov. 8)

English Naturally: A Conversation Group
10am, Central Library
Practice your English language skills, make friends, and learn about different cultures. This group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Literacy Room on the second floor. Drop in or call for information. 818-238-5577.

Family STEM Night: Light & Shadow
5pm, Central Library
Kids in grades 1-3 with their families will explore the science behind light and shadow. After a shadow-themed story and demonstration, we will investigate and experiment at different stations. Free reservations required. Call 818-238-5610 to reserve your spot.

Getting Started with HTML (led by Rain Breaw Michaels)
7pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
HTML (hypertext markup language) is the basic language of the web. Even as websites become increasingly dynamic and advanced, HTML sits at the core of the experience. This workshop will be interactive, and you will be writing HTML during the evening. Please bring a laptop or pair with someone with a laptop. Your laptop does not need to be able to connect to the internet, but it will help.

Storytime Schedule

Baby Storytime (under age 12 months)
Tuesday at 10am, Northwest Branch Library

Toddler Storytime (under age 3)
Thursday at 10am, Buena Vista Branch Library (FULL)
Friday at 10am, Buena Vista Branch Library (FULL)
Friday at 10am, Central Library

Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Tuesday at 10am, Central Library
Wednesday at 10am, Northwest Branch Library

AUTHOR EVENT

noreply@blogger.com (RTKO) — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 17:54:00 +0000

THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1^ST AT 7:00 P.M., AT BUENA VISTA BRANCH,

SUSAN ORLEAN WILL DISCUSS HER CURRENT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BOOK, THE LIBRARY BOOK.

A bestselling book about public libraries? Who would have thought that would happen? But perhaps it just proves the theme of the book, that public libraries have a deeply felt and enduring place in our cultural and social life, and that they are likely to endure. Susan Orlean uses the disastrous fire at the Central Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986, and the history of LAPL, as an allegory for how public libraries respond and adapt to meet the changing needs of their patrons, and she shows us how that adaptation is sustained by ideas and values, shared by us all, that remain central to their continuing civic and cultural value.

Join us for a discussion and celebration! Susan Orlean will be discussing her book with Library Director Elizabeth Goldman. Books will be available at the event and the author will sign.

This Week at the Library (Oct. 28 - Nov. 3, 2018)

noreply@blogger.com (Janae) — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 19:00:00 +0000

Scroll to the end of the post for Storytime schedule.

Monday (Oct. 29)

Opera Talk
7pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
Opera Talks are perfect for opera buffs and beginners alike! A speaker from LA Opera’s Community Engagement Program will provide a multi-media presentation and discussion of a current opera in LA. This month's program will be presented by Ray Bussman. He will discuss Satyagraha.

Tuesday (Oct. 30)

English Naturally: A Conversation Group

10am, Central Library

Practice your English language skills, make friends, and learn about different cultures. This group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Literacy Room on the second floor. Drop in or call for information. 818-238-5577.

Glow in the Dark Pajama Storytime
6:30pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
An evening Storytime for kids in Kindergarten and younger with their families. Come dressed in a costume or your pjs and enjoy an evening of stories, songs, and fun!

Wednesday (Oct. 31)

Fright Night Movie: Wait Until Dark

6:30pm, Central Library

a 1967 American thriller directed by Terence Young and produced by Mel Ferrer. Audrey Hepburn stars as a young, blind woman who gradually realizes that the man inside her apartment intends to murder her--and then realizes that in a darkened apartment she knows well, her blindness can become her advantage in this classic thriller. Not rated. Runtime 105 minutes.

Thursday (Nov. 1)

English Naturally: A Conversation Group

10am, Central Library

Author Susan Orlean: The Library Book
7pm, Buena Vista Branch Library
The Burbank Public Library is pleased to host an evening with celebrated writer and journalist Susan Orlean, in conversation with Burbank's Library Services Director, Elizabeth Goldman.The Los Angeles Public Library fire in April 1986 was a catastrophic event – it was the biggest library fire in American history, destroying or damaging more than a million books. Likely arson, the fire drew scant attention because of an eerie coincidence; it happened the same day as the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.

Saturday (Nov. 3)

Computer 101 - Clase de Computación en Español (Computer Class in Spanish)

10am, Buena Vista Branch Library

Para las personas nuevas en computadoras, aprenda conceptos básicos sobre cómo iniciar programas, guardar y volver a abrir un archivo y crear una carpeta en esta clase. Pueden reservar su lugar inscribiéndose en el escritorio de referencia de Buena Vista en persona o llamando al 818-238-5625.

Storytime Schedule

Burbank photos on Calisphere

noreply@blogger.com (Janae) — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:00:00 +0000

You may have heard of Burbank in Focus, the library's digital collection of historical Burbank images, but have you heard of Calisphere, the gateway to digital collections from libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies throughout California? Developed by the University of California Libraries and maintained by the California Digital Library, Calisphere harvests metadata from digital libraries, providing one interface to find great historical resources such as photographs, documents, letters, diaries, artwork, maps, oral histories, etc.

Calisphere homepage

More than two hundred institutions participate in Calisphere, and we are officially one of them! You can now find items from Burbank in Focus on the Calisphere site (and by extension the Digital Public Library of America). This means many more people from across the state and nation will be exposed to the items in our digital collection. Now when you search “Burbank” in Calisphere 9,350 items result of which 1,251 come from Burbank in Focus (note: not all of the items are related to our city, as thousands of items in the results are about famed horticulturalist Luther Burbank, and no, our city was not named after Luther Burbank but dentist Dr. David Burbank).

search results for "burbank"

May I suggest that you explore Calisphere a bit? I am sure you will find something of interest. Some of the neat (non-Burbank) collections I discovered through Calisphere include:

advertising artwork created by Dr. Seuss,

photos from a Santa Cruz surf club,

and photos of Ghiradelli chocolate manufacturing in 1919.

SPECIAL AUTHOR EVENT FROM THE BURBANK PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE BURBANK VETERANS COMMITTEE

noreply@blogger.com (RTKO) — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 02:21:00 +0000

C.J. Chivers will be here to discuss his new book with Max Uriarte and Paul Szoldra on Thursday night, October 25th at 7:00 p.m. at the Buena Vista Branch.

The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq by C.J. Chivers

Chivers is a former Marine who served in the Gulf War and is now a journalist working for the New York Times. He has spent most of his career reporting on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, often from the front line. He witnessed many events he writes about in this book. Most reviews have agreed that The Fighters the best account that has been written of the experience of the rank-and-file soldiers who served in those conflicts. Chivers follows the stories of a half dozen soldiers during their time in Iraq and Afghanistan, tracing their experience through the long arc of those wars. They become representative of the experience of many others in a general way, but the strength of this book comes from Chivers’ respect for each of these men as people who have their own story to tell, telling us what faced them at a particular time and place and circumstance during their service. We come to realize that the experience of war is narrow, immediate and individual, that soldiers react in different ways, and that the very nature of the experience can change for a soldier over wars of long duration and in repeated deployments. The assignments change, the nature of the war changes, the tactics, strategy, and politics evolve, the kinds of personal cost and consequences may change, and all of it seems to depend on timing and coincidence. Fate turns on a dime.

Cpl. Thomas Bourget,assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Infantry Division,

observes the mountain landscape opposite his position that surrounds the

Kornegal Valley, Afghanistan, April 21, 2009. Photo by Sgt. Mathew Moeller,

U.S. Army

In his preface the author gives a brief strategic and political overview of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but that is for the sake of providing context to the stories he is about to tell. The subject of this book is not the rightness or wrongness of these conflicts, or the mistakes of strategy or the fate of our military ambitions—although these background the experience of soldiers—but rather on those who fought and the intimate, local and immediate experience of each of these lower and middle-rank soldiers. Chivers writes “Stripped of all other context, apart for the errors and misjudgments of military and political figures above them, this is what the pages that follow are about, so that their labors—what they gave in good faith—might be more fully understood, even where squandered by those who sent them into circumstances of grave danger, moral confusion, and agonizing deed.” The author’s discipline and dedication in making that the purpose and theme of his work, in telling us that story, is what makes this so powerful a book.

C.J. Chivers

This is the largest 350- page book I’ve ever read, and by that I mean the most meticulous detail and description I’ve seen packed into that number of pages, a whole other world we know little or nothing about, all in service of giving us a sense of being there, of seeing and experiencing things through the eyes of individual soldiers. This is where the impact, and achieved purpose, of the book comes from. It is not that we hear deep and troubling or extensive emotional confessions from these soldiers. Yes, there are powerful moments and words, but they seem to have all the more power because the expressions of emotions are generally laconic in the narrative, both with the soldiers and in Chivers' telling. What we feel and imagine they feel is due to Chivers ability to put us there with these soldiers, seeing things through their eyes. That is what Chivers has achieved so remarkably here. There are moments in this book you will never forget. For me, two of them, among many others, are the inventory of the Afghan bodies in houses in Marja, Afghanistan that were mistakenly targeted in a missile hit, and the anticipation of soldiers set in ambush waiting for a group of Taliban fighters to fall into their trap.

A U.S. Army soldier and a U.S. Air Force airman scan the Kornegal Valley's

rocky hillside as fellow members return fire at insurgents. Photo by Sgt.

Mathew Moeller, U.S. Army

As you read the epilogue to this book, you realize that Chivers has made us care about these soldiers and what happened to them; we want and need the epilogue, and it is very affecting. All of what The Fighters does has been achieved by incredibly labored and fastidious work, checking facts, supplying details, examining news stories and official accounts, interviewing participants, reconciling varying memories, and fashioning all that into a coherent and accurate narrative. But it is because of this painstaking work that this will be a lasting testimony to those who served—a portrait of the nature of modern warfare-- and will serve as an important enlightenment for the rest of us who have so little idea of why these soldiers chose to serve, what they experienced, and the personal price they paid--and many continue to pay--for all of us.

Featured collection

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 16:30:00 +0000

Due to an increased interest within the Burbank Unified School System in immersion Spanish learning, the Central Library Teen Section is debuting a collection of up-to-the-minute, popular teen fiction in Spanish!

The collection will not be shelved with the regular Spanish-language materials, but will instead appear near the teen section, in one of the purple bookcases adjacent to the paperback classics (look for the bust of Shakespeare, and then look to your left). Our marketing department has provided signage to draw attention to the collection, which consists of about 50 novels.

Although we anticipate these books will be most popular with teens, we know many adults also like to read teen fiction, and hope that our Spanish-speaking patrons of all ages will enjoy checking out this new collection.

Debido a un mayor interés en el aprendizaje de español por inmersión por parte del Sistema Escolar Unificado de Burbank (BUSD), ¡la Sección de Adolescentes (Teens) de la Biblioteca Central presenta una colección de ficción en español para jovenes!

La colección no se archivará con el resto de materiales en idioma español, sino que estará localizada en la sección de adolescentes, al lado de los libros clásicos de bolsillo (busque el busto de Shakespeare y luego mire a su izquierda). Nuestro departamento de marketing ha creado carteles para llamar la atención sobre la colección, que consiste de unas 50 novelas.

Aunque anticipamos que estos libros serán más populares entre los adolescentes, sabemos que a muchos adultos también les gusta leer ficción para adolescentes, y esperamos que nuestros usuarios de habla hispana de todas las edades disfruten de esta nueva colección.

This week at the library...

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 16:30:00 +0000

TUESDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

ENGLISH NATURALLY:
A Conversation Group
Practice your English language skills, make friends, and learn about different cultures. This group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Literacy Room on the second floor. Drop in or call for information. 818-238-5577.

Buena Vista Branch, 7:00 p.m.

8+9 BOOK CLUB

The club has read and will discuss The Fixer, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This club is for enrolled teens only, and is full. To be put on the waiting list, email awilliams@burbankca.gov.

WEDNESDAY

Central Library, 5:30 p.m.

MEETING:

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

THURSDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

AUTHOR EVENT: C. J. CHIVERS

For the majority of Americans who have not served in the Armed Forces, nor known anyone who has, journalist and former infantry officer Chivers aims to help readers get to know a few service members from the long campaigns following 9/11. In this excellent set of military portraits, Chivers tells the life stories and battle experiences of a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, a Naval aviator, a helicopter pilot, a Navy corpsman with the U.S. Marine Corps., an Army rifleman, and an unlikely Marine infantry officer, all wonderfully engaging.

C.J. Chivers is a correspondent for The New York Times and a writer-at-large for the New York Times Magazine. His magazine story “The Fighter” won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing. In 2009 he was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for coverage from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Chivers served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf War and on peacekeeping duty during the Los Angeles riots. He is also the author of The Gun. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

BABY STORYTIME (under 12 months):
Northwest Branch: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Registration is required. Please call 818 238-5640 to sign up. Fall Session begins September 11 and ends on November 13, 2018.. Songs, stories, and rhymes for children under 12 months.

TODDLER STORYTIMES (under age 3):
Buena Vista Branch: Thursdays and Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.
Central Library: Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.

Due to limited space, you must sign up online for Buena Vista Toddler Storytime. Sign-ups begin Wednesday, September 5. Plan to visit Toddler Storytime on Fridays at Burbank Central Library - no sign-ups required. This program is geared to children under age 3 and their caregivers. The Fall Session for Thursdays will run from September 13 through November 15, 2018.

Storytime plays an important role in promoting early literacy and the love of books, learning, and exploring the world. Storytime programs expose children and their parents and caregivers to books, simple songs, finger plays, rhymes, and crafts.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES (ages 3-5):Central Library: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.
Northwest Branch: Wednesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

BILINGUAL STORYTIME: ENGLISH/ARMENIAN
Central Library, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Bilingual Storytime երկլեզու Հեքիաթի Ժամ

In English & Armenian Անգլերեն եվ Հայերեն

Come and enjoy stories and songs!
Եկեք եվ վայելեք պատմություններ եվ երգեր

CRAFTY KIDS: HALLOWE'EN!

Central Library, Friday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Kids and families are invited to stop by the children's room at the Central Library and get crafty:
Build a paper skeleton
Decorate a haunted house
Try some Halloween Origami

California Stories

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 16:30:00 +0000

On SATURDAY, October 20th, at 2:00 p.m. at our Buena Vista branch, please join us for a special story-telling event:

CALIFORNIA LISTENS

In April of 2018, Burbank Public Library was selected to participate in a statewide digital storytelling program called "California Listens." The program, sponsored by the California State Library and Califa, was focused on collecting diverse stories from a variety of Californians, and creating an archive of these digital video stories to share.

Eight members of the Burbank community were invited to be part of a two-day workshop, presented by StoryCenter, to learn the art of digital storytelling. These participants were invited to tell a story from their own lives and what resulted were eight brief but moving personal histories.

We invite you to view these digital stories together, and to share in the history of our community and your neighbors.

What We're Reading: Another Tumultuous Time In Politics

noreply@blogger.com (RTKO) — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0000

The Contest: The 1968 Election and the War for America’s Soul, by Michael Schumacher

The Presidential election of 1968 was the political awakening for an entire generation of young Americans. It came at a time when many were questioning the access and openness of the political process, and it was the first encounter with that system for a politically energized youth seeking to participate in that system and hopeful that they could bring about significant change in the course of American foreign policy--particularly the ongoing war in Vietnam--and on a variety of social issues confronting a divided and increasingly violent nation. What happened in 1968 framed how that generation would view their country and American politics for years to come. For many, it was a disillusioning experience, one in which victory went to those resistant to change, a “silent majority” that rose in reaction to recent legal and social changes it deeply resented and for which it found little sympathy or tolerance. Many of those youth who participated in American politics in 1968 gave up on the system and any hope for change. They became, as in the Jackson Browne song, “pretenders,” who “started out so young and strong only to surrender.” There have been many fine books written on the election of 1968, including Lawrence’s O’Donnell’s book written just last year, Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics (reviewed previously for this blog). The Contest may very well be the best book that has been written on the 1968 election.

Eugene McCarthy surprised pundits and came close to defeating Lyndon
Johnson in the New Hampshire primary. A stunned Johnson would announce
in a few weeks that he would not seek reelection.

With so high a level of political activity packed into a year-long campaign, the challenge is to identify the major developments and include the right things (some will inevitably be left out) as well as presenting a compelling analysis of what happened and why. Schumacher has done a remarkable job on all accounts, and that’s what makes this book such a good overview. For those who lived during the campaign, or those fairly familiar with the story and the principal characters, there will probably always be caveats about any book on the topic, about what was left out or interpretations of actions and events, but those critics will still find things in The Contest that are new and revealing and that enhance their understanding of this important election. And with any book that looks at events of 50 years ago, a contemporary author is obliged to consider that many of his readers will not know the principal candidates or be familiar with the historical context, and so there has to be some background given for a newer generation of readers. Schumacher handles that well, too.

Robert Kennedy, the night of his victory in the California Primary.
A few moments later, he would be shot to death as he made his way through
the kitchen at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles

It seems right that any book on the Presidential election of 1968 is going to focus heavily on the contest for the Democratic nomination. The Democratic race was where all the headlines and drama occurred, where the surprises and the turmoil was centered. A sitting President was knocked out of the race by an unlikely challenger, and one of the principal candidates was murdered. The party’s convention in Chicago was besieged by anti-war protesters. The violent clash between demonstrators and police was one that as the protesters famously chanted, the whole world was watching, a confrontation that an investigative commission later described as a "police riot." Some books focus almost exclusively on the contest among the Democrats. In contrast the Republican contest was tame and predictable. But Schumacher gives it more attention than other books have at least, and gives the reader new information and insights about the contest among Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller and Ronald Reagan for the Republican nomination. The Contest looks in detail at George Wallace’s third party campaign and also at the protesters who were there in the parks and streets of Chicago, aspects of the story that broaden the political landscape and are often overlooked in other accounts.

The victor, Richard Nixon. The race against Humphrey tightened unexpectedly towards
election day. Nixon was willing to commit what was tantamount to treason
in order to win, secretly urging the South Vietnamese government not to
participate in the Paris Peace Talks to end the Vietnam War.

The Contest contains the best account I’ve read on the political complexities involved in Robert Kennedy’s indecision about running. Schumacher gives readers more information and does a better analysis on this subject than even recent books on Robert Kennedy have done, one that may amend to some degree the tag of calculation and opportunism that has long been attached to Kennedy's hesitation. There are detailed accounts of the important state primary races. The Contest doesn’t end at the party conventions, like most books on the election that give the general election race little attention. In most accounts of the 1968 election, Hubert Humphrey has received only passing attention, viewed as a stand-in for Johnson and the choice of the pols who controlled the Democratic Party. The circumstances in which he found himself during 1968 have, in retrospect, served to eclipse his long and important career and limit an appreciation of his accomplishments. The Contest at last treats Hubert Humphrey as a major American politician in his own right, and explores his situation in 1968 with insight and understanding.

It has become commonplace these days to say--with a note of sadness and regret-- that we have been witness recently to some remarkable things in American politics. Perhaps that is true. But in my lifetime, the most remarkable thing I’ve ever seen in American politics occurred on the night of April 4, 1968, on the night of Martin Luther King’s assassination. Robert Kennedy had been advised that it was too dangerous to talk at a planned campaign rally in downtown Indiana that night. He insisted on going, and jotted down notes for a few words he would deliver extemporaneously from the platform provided by a flatbed truck. Speaking in a shaky voice he told the crowd that he would not talk long. Most of the assembled had not yet heard the news he had to deliver.

Robert Kennedy addresses a campaign crowd of mostly African Americans
in Indianapolis the night Martin Luther King was murdered.

"I have bad news for you, for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world, and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and killed tonight.

"Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice for his fellow human beings, and he died because of that effort.

"In this difficult day, in this difficult time for the United States, it is perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in. For those of you who are black--considering the evidence there evidently is that there were white people who were responsible--you can be filled with bitterness, with hatred, and a desire for revenge. We can move in that direction as a country, in great polarization--black people amongst black, white people amongst white, filled with hatred toward one another.

"Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and to replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand with compassion and love.

"For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and distrust at the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I can only say that I feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man. But we have to make an effort in the United States, we have to make an effort to understand, to go beyond these rather difficult times.

"My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He wrote: 'In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.'

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.

"So I shall ask you tonight to return home, to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King, that's true, but more importantly to say a prayer for our own country, which all of us love--a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.

"We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times; we've had difficult times in the past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder.

"But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings who abide in our land.

"Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.

"Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people."

“We can do well in this country.” If we can, it may depend upon just how many among us still believe that.

Author Michael Schumacher will be here at Burbank Public Library's Buena Vista Branch this coming Wednesday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss his book and to present an illustrated talk on the election of 1968. This book has just been published and should be available soon here at the library.

This week at the library...

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0000

TUESDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

Central Library, 12:00 noon

The Brown Bag Book Club meets the third Tuesday of each month, at noon at the Central Library. Bring your lunch and join in the discussion! This month the club has read and will discuss Radio Girls, by Sarah-Jane Stratford.

London, 1926. American-raised Maisie Musgrave is thrilled to land a job as a secretary at the upstart British Broadcasting Corporation, whose use of radio—still new, strange, and electrifying—is captivating the nation.

For more information contact lmcmahon@burbankca.gov.

Buena Vista Branch, 7:00 p.m.

The Scene of the Crime Mystery Book Club meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Storytime Room at the Buena Vista Branch Library. This month, the club has read and will discuss Angel's Flight, by Michael Connelly.

An activist attorney is killed in a landmark Los Angeles trolley called Angel's Flight, far from Harry Bosch's Hollywood turf. But the case is so explosive--and the dead man's enemies inside the L.A.P.D. are so numerous--that it falls to Harry to solve it. Harry's year-old Vegas marriage is unraveling, while the hunt for a killer is leading Harry to another high-profile L.A. murder case, one where every cop had a motive.

Please email lmcmahon@burbankca.gov with any questions about this club.

Buena Vista Branch, 7:00 p.m.

TRUE TALES FROM BURBANK

Join authors Wes Clark and Mike McDaniel for an illustrated talk based on their newest book True Tales from Burbank:

Home to the likes of Disney and Warner Bros., Burbank has a fascinating history beyond the glitz and glamour of its entertainment industry. Discover the true story behind the mysterious Night Riders and how the Druids came to visit. Learn about the plans to film biblical epics in town and how the Crank Conventions came to be. Delve into tales of rodeo queens, Hollywood stars, Mouseketeers, and a flying lion cub. Wesley H. Clark and Michael B. McDaniel, authors of Lost Burbank and Growing Up in Burbank, take you on a surprising and whimsical tour of the people, places, and events of this historic city we call home.

Wes Clark was born in Los Angeles but his family moved to Burbank when he was eight; he was educated mostly in Burbank schools. He met Mike McDaniel in 1972 and they graduated from Burbank High School in 1974. They have always been intensely interested in history. Clark lives in Springfield, Virginia; an electrical engineer, he works for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. His website is wesclark.com.

Mike McDaniel was born at the Burbank Community Hospital (now gone), and has lived in Burbank in the same house for 62 years. He was educated in Burbank schools. Mike has worked for the City of Burbank for 30 years and is the supervisor of the City Print Shop (printing being a vocation he learned in high school).

WEDNESDAY
Buena Vista Branch, 7:00 p.m.

The 10-12 Book Club, for teens in grades 10, 11, and 12, meets the third Wednesday of each month (change of day this year), from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. This month, the club has read and will discuss Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, by David Wong. This book club is for enrolled teens only, and is full. To be placed on the waiting list, contact Anarda Williams at 818 238-5620.

Buena Vista Branch, 7:00 p.m.

AUTHOR MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
The Contest: The 1968 Election and the War for America’s Soul
Drawing largely from oral histories and papers of the major candidates, Michael Schumacher, author of biographies of Eric Clapton, Francis Ford Coppola, and Allen Ginsberg, delivers a straightforward account of how the candidates in the 1968 American presidential election grappled with events and their own inner demons. A dramatic, deeply informed account of one of the most consequential elections and periods in American history

1968—rife with riots, assassinations, anti–Vietnam War protests, and realpolitik—was one of the most tumultuous years in the 20th, culminating in one of the most consequential presidential elections in American history. The Contest tells the story of that contentious election and that remarkable year, giving us the long view of a turning point in American culture and politics. It was—as it seems now—-a time of bitter divisions, but it was also a time when decent and thoughtful men sought the highest office in the land. 1968 was the year of an election that would change America forever.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

THURSDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

PUPPY TALES
This is a read-aloud program for children in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade. Parents can sign up their child at the Buena Vista Branch Children's Library or by calling 818-238-5630. Therapy dogs have been proven to help children build confidence in reading and improve communication skills. Reading Sessions are held on scheduled Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. This session is FULL.

Remaining Fall Schedule
October 18, November 1, 15, & 29

Central Library, 7:00 p.m.

The Genre-X Book Club (not your mother's book club) is a group intended for Millennials and Gen-Xers to get together, hang out, and talk about diverse, interesting books. The club reads a mix of realistic fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, nonfiction, and graphic novels, and sometimes ranges into
young adult fiction. It meets the third Thursday
of the month, upstairs at the Central Library
in the Literacy Conference Room, at 7:00 p.m. Email lmcmahon@burbankca.gov for more information.

SATURDAY
Buena Vista Branch, 2:00 p.m.

CALIFORNIA LISTENS
Eight members of the Burbank community were invited to be part of a two-day workshop, presented by StoryCenter, to learn the art of digital storytelling. These participants were invited to tell a story from their own lives and what resulted were eight brief, but moving personal histories. We invite you to view these digital stories together, and to share in the history of our community and your neighbors.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

BABY STORYTIME (under 12 months):

Northwest Branch: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Registration is required. Please call 818 238-5640 to sign up. Fall Session begins September 11 and ends on November 13, 2018.. Songs, stories, and rhymes for children under 12 months.

TODDLER STORYTIMES (under age 3):

Buena Vista Branch: Thursdays and Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.
Central Library: Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.

Due to limited space, you must sign up online for Buena Vista Toddler Storytime. Sign-ups begin Wednesday, September 5. Plan to visit Toddler Storytime on Fridays at Burbank Central Library - no sign-ups required. This program is geared to children under age 3 and their caregivers. The Fall Session for Thursdays will run from September 13 through November 15, 2018.

Storytime plays an important role in promoting early literacy and the love of books, learning, and exploring the world. Storytime programs expose children and their parents and caregivers to books, simple songs, finger plays, rhymes, and crafts.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES (ages 3-5):Central Library: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Northwest Branch: Wednesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH STORYTIME
Northwest Branch, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Join us for a bilingual storytime with stories, songs, and rhymes in English and Spanish. There will be a short video at the end of the program. Vengan para una hora de cuentos bilingüe con cuentos, canciones, y rimas en inglés y español. Habrá un video corto al final del programa.

BABY PARTY!
Buena Vista Branch, Saturday, 10:00 a.m.

Baby Party! is an informal time for families with babies under 12 months (or pre-walkers) to read, play, explore and make new friends. Spend an hour together in the Storytime Room. Walk-ins welcome, no sign-ups required, but space is limited.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT

Central Library, Saturday, 10:15 a.m.

A program for preschoolers and their families. Developmentally appropriate music activities involve the whole child - the child's desire for language, the body's urge to move, the brain's attention to patterns, the ear's lead in initiating communication, the voice's response to sounds, as well as the eye-hand coordination associated with playing musical instruments. Join us for a fun introduction to movement, coordination, rhythm, and dance! We'll be dancing using shaker eggs & scarves and listening to music.

Adult book club meetings

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Tuesday, October 16

BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB
Central Library, 12:00 noon

Ths club has read and will discuss Radio Girls, by Sarah Jane Stratford.

SCENE OF THE CRIME
MYSTERY BOOK CLUB
Buena Vista Branch, 7:00 p.m.

The club has read and will discuss Angel's Flight, by Michael Connelly.

Thursday, October 18

GENRE-X BOOK CLUB (not your mother's book club)
Central Library, 7:00 p.m.

The club has read and will discuss My Best Friend's Exorcism, by Grady Hendrix.

Please read along and join us at one or more of these meetings!

This week at the library...

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0000

TUESDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

Buena Vista Branch, 6:30 p.m.

Twilight Cinema presents...

OCEAN'S 8

A 2018 American heist that is both a continuation and a spin-off from Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy. The film follows a group of women led by Debbie Ocean, the sister of Danny Ocean, who plan a sophisticated heist at the annual star-studded Met Gala in New York City. 135 minutes / PG-13

Buena Vista Branch, 7:00 p.m.

6+7 BOOK CLUB

The club has read and will discuss The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, by Rick Yancey. This club is for enrolled teens only, and is full. To be put on the waiting list, email awilliams@burbankca.gov.

WEDNESDAY

Central Library, 5:30 p.m.

MEETING:

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES

THURSDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

WRITING FOR THE WEB
Content is King - this is a common expression among designers and marketers, and for good reason. It doesn’t matter how beautiful your site is if the content doesn’t get your message across. Writing for the web is different from print, email, or other delivery mechanisms, and in this session we will cover how to write for the web, and some of the technical tools you will need to optimize your content including:

How to think about content strategy
How users read online
How to use the tools to focus your content in a way that will get the most out of users’ time
Typical things that users will unconsciously ignore
How to find and focus your tone, voice, and message

This program is open to all - no sign-ups or laptop required.

Rain Breaw Michaels will lead this workshop. She has been building websites since 1998. She has taught HTML, CSS, web accessibility, and Drupal in colleges and workshops.

FRIDAY

Northwest Branch, 4:00 p.m.

PROJECTS IN THE PARK

In October we are celebrating Outside the Lines, demonstrating the creativity and innovation happening inside and outside libraries. Join us in the park behind Northwest Library for a FREE OUTDOOR craft program for kids in K - 8.

Paint a mason jar monster
Halloween paint chip art
and much more!

Space is limited - Call 818-238-5640 to sign up.

SATURDAY

Central Library, 12:00 p.m.

POP-UP BOOK SALE

The Friends of the Library are having a one-day BOOK SALE! Find thousands of books in the AUDITORIUM of the Burbank Central Library. Book BARGAINS galore! Prices start at 25 cents.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

BABY STORYTIME (under 12 months):

Northwest Branch: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Registration is required. Please call 818 238-5640 to sign up. Fall Session begins September 11 and ends on November 13, 2018.. Songs, stories, and rhymes for children under 12 months.

TODDLER STORYTIMES (under age 3):

Buena Vista Branch: Thursdays and Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.
Central Library: Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES (ages 3-5):Central Library: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Northwest Branch: Wednesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Writing contest for teens

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Although this has been posted on the website, on the Teen Facebook page, and on the Teen Blog, we all know how teens are about paying attention, so for you parents who think your teens might enjoy writing a story for the Teen Read Month contest, here are the details:

This year's theme is:
IT'S WRITTEN IN THE STARS!

Teens in grades 6-12 are to write a story incorporating the idea of DESTINY, KISMET, FATE, or NEMESIS.

It could be a horror story, a love story, or any story in which something happens that seems inevitable.

THE DETAILS:
Teens can write either a SHORT story of 750 to 1,000 words, OR a LONG story of 2,000 to 3,000 words. The number of words will be strictly enforced, and stories that do not comply will be disqualified, so ensure that your teen uses a word counter on his/her document.

Stories are due by Friday, October 26th, at 5:00 p.m. Writers may attach a Word document, make a Google doc, or paste their story into an email, and send it to burbank.teens@gmail.com. Please ensure that they double-space the text, and include their name, phone, email address, grade, and age!

Prizes will be awarded for the top stories in each category (short and long), and the top writers will be announced on Wednesday, November 7, at 7:00 p.m. at Buena Vista branch, at Book Café.

Please encourage your teens to participate!

It's National Taco Day!

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:30:00 +0000

Last year Americans ate more than 4.5 billion tacos! That’s 490,000 miles of tacos, which could take you to the moon and back or, if you prefer, could, at 775 million pounds, equal the weight of two Empire State Buildings.

The word taco is the Mexican equivalent of the English word sandwich. The tortilla, which is made of corn or wheat, is wrapped or folded around a filling that is generally made of spiced proteins -- beef, pork or fish -- although vegetarians also enjoy tacos incorporating beans, eggs, potatoes, cheese, and more. Don't forget garnishes – salsa, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, onions and lettuce!

If you want to be truly creative in the kitchen, here are some ideas from the cooking section of the library:

Guerrilla Tacos: Recipes from the Streets of L.A., by Wesley Avila

In a town overrun with taco trucks, Wes Avila's Guerrilla Tacos has managed to win almost every accolade there is, from being crowned Best Taco Truck by LA Weekly to being called one of the best things to eat in Los Angeles by legendary food critic Jonathan Gold.

Amor y tacos : modern Mexican tacos, margaritas, and antojitos,
by Deborah M. Schneider
Taking her cue from the taqueros who vend fresh, inventive, lovingly prepared food from roadside stalls in Baja and street-side trucks in Tijuana, Schneider shakes up and recombines traditional Mexican flavors in ways that will dazzle your taste buds.

Mesa Mexicana,

by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Fenniger

Milliken and Fenniger are the chef/owners of the popular Border Grill in Los Angeles. This book offers the zesty dishes they serve there, featuring their unique interpretation of Mexican cooking.

Since October is also National Cookbook Month, trying out some of these recipes will give you a good start!

Trivia: The first taco truck was thought to have been run by two New York housewives in 1966!

This week at the library...

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0000

TUESDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

Buena Vista Branch, 6:30 p.m.

FRENCH BOOK CLUB
For more information, call Isabelle at 818-238-5620.

Central Library, 6:30 p.m.

THE HISTORY OF MEXICAN REBOZOS
In recognition of national Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) the library presents guest speaker Miriam Quezada, who will use visuals, authentic rebozos, and hands-on demonstrations to give a memorable lecture on this beautiful Mexican art, including stunning and colorful examples from different states.

THURSDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

Buena Vista Branch, 4:30 p.m.

PUPPY TALES
This is a read-aloud program for children in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade. Parents can sign up their child at the Buena Vista Branch Children's Library or by calling 818-238-5630. Therapy dogs have been proven to help children build confidence in reading and improve communication skills. Reading Sessions are held on scheduled Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. This session is FULL.

Sessions still to come:
Oct. 4 & 18, November 1, 15, & 29

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

BABY STORYTIME (under 12 months):

Northwest Branch: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Registration is required. Please call 818 238-5640 to sign up. Fall Session begins September 11 and ends on November 13, 2018.. Songs, stories, and rhymes for children under 12 months.

TODDLER STORYTIMES (under age 3):

Buena Vista Branch: Thursdays and Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.
Central Library: Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES (ages 3-5):Central Library: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Northwest Branch: Wednesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

LEGO CLUB FOR KIDS

Central Library, Saturday, 10:00 a.m.

Stop in between 10 am and noon to build and create. Thousands of Legos are available for you to use. For children ages 2-14 and their families. Children under 9 must be accompanied by an adult.

Farewell

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Since April of 2010, when blog founder and librarian Erin Pawlus moved back to Arizona, I have served as the editor of the Burbank Library blog, first sharing that duty with Tech Services Supervisor David Peterson (Duedesml) and then taking it over completely about a year later. I have also been a frequent book reviewer and made sure to highlight teen programs at the library (my primary job being teen librarian). When Erin left, and then others (Bill B. from Literacy, Darryl M., our sci fi guy, and Louise P., our mystery maven) moved on or retired, we all worried about the continuity of the blog; but somehow it has prevailed, and racked up more than 2,400 blog posts and in excess of 323,000 views!

This week marks another transition for the blog. I am retiring from 10 years as the Young Adult Librarian at Burbank Central Library, and likewise from this post as editor. I say "retiring" advisedly, because I'm actually moving into a new phase as an adjunct professor at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies (GSE&IS), teaching readers' advisory and young adult literature to library masters students there.

I will also be doing some consulting as an instructor of seminars on those subjects and others, for libraries and
library systems in and around Los Angeles. My new identity is "The Book Adept," and I mention it here because on the blog attached to my new website, I will continue to review an eclectic variety of adult and teen fiction. I hope some of you who have enjoyed my reviews here on the Burbank Public Library blog (and the teen blog, YAThink?) will follow me over to Book Adept and continue to share thoughts about reading!

As for this blog, writers with whom you are familiar (the faithful and prolific RTKO, librarian Laura M., local history buff Janae K., monitor Larry U., and of course Duedesml) will continue, and hopefully will add others to their ranks. I look forward to seeing their direction.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my career in Burbank, and will miss so many things about working with the teens and writing for its blogs. But I'll drop in at the library from time to time, and hope to run into some of you for a literary chat!

Best regards,

Melissa Elliott, alias "EMME"
Senior Librarian—Young Adult Services (retired)
Burbank Public Library

What We're Reading: When Dinosaurs Ruled the World

noreply@blogger.com (RTKO) — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 16:30:00 +0000

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs:
A New History of a Lost World,
by Steve Brusatte

A lot of people think an interest in dinosaurs is just for kids who are taken by their huge size, large terror, and imaginative wonder. You won’t think that any longer after reading this wonderful new book on the history of dinosaurs. It weaves into the narrative new and amazing discoveries that have been made in recent years, and tells us a remarkable story about the evolutionary success and longevity of dinosaurs, creatures resurrected and scientifically re-imagined by our very young and as yet short-lived species. Brusatte’s narrative revisits some of the more well-known and charismatic species. You will find fascinating character sketches and physical portraits of some of your favorite dinosaurs among the sauropods and the tyrannosaurs, but the strength of this book is that it is an attempt to trace--if such a thing were possible in a period that spans 200 million years or so--a complete evolutionary and historical arc, one that in particular delves into the mystery of the appearance of dinosaurs and their early development, followed by an account of their many dynamic and spectacular adaptations. Their demise is handled well here too, and even though we know the basic facts, Brusatte’s recreation of the radically altered world faced by the dinosaurs at the moment of the Cretaceous asteroid’s impact in Yucatan is brilliantly imagined and produces his best and most memorable writing.

An artist's conception of the recently discovered winged and feathered
Chinese dinosaur Zhenyuanlong suni that was described and named
by Junchang Lu and Steve Brusatte in 2015

Steve Brusatte at work in the field

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is animated by Steve Brusatte’s enthusiasm for his subject and for the nature of the work he does. It is packed with a contagious energy that comes in no small part from the inclusion of stories from his own career and adventures of discovery in the field, from the portraits we get of other colleagues and friends, and his account of the relationships he has built in the course of his work. We are given a picture of scientific work as a collaborative field of exchange and interrelationships--both contemporary and historical--and we are shown how these are scientifically important as well as personally satisfying. It give this book power as both a scientific and personal story, and Brusatte has pulled off just the right balance of the two to make this immensely enjoyable reading.

We seem to take a great pleasure in the exercise of our imaginations, whether it be in picturing what the future might look like or what the past looked like and how it might have felt putting us, as in this case, at a moment in time when we were not here, and allowing us to see that world at a time when our mammalian ancestors were just tiny creatures overshadowed and scurrying around in the under story. Both the acts of imagining the future and imagining the past tell us something about who we are now, but it seems that there is something closer to home for all of us when we look back and try to imagine lost worlds. The past is where our species came from. It is something that we know in fact happened. Discovering it, making it real to us, is something that happens through a process in which our imagination is guided by scientific understanding. We are able to claim that history and its meaning as our own as we reconstruct the story of the evolution of life and our place in that story. That’s what makes reading The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs relevant and exhilarating.

A spectacular Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, Canada

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs has good source notes, but what is truly exceptional about the book are the illustrations. They are not spectacular color illustrations like you might find in a coffee table book, but they have been sought out and placed to illustrate particular points and discussions in the text, and they do this job superbly, expanding and enhancing the narrative.

I found reading this book a more imaginative and thrilling experience than watching one of the Jurassic Park movies, and I’m not sure why. Maybe that’s what words and a story well told can still do for us: leave our imaginations the space for a larger repast than we get from visualizations set on a plate before us.

Feeling Small? The sauropod Argentinosaurus, discovered in Argentina in 1987,
lived 97-93.5 million years ago and is thought to be the largest land animal to ever roan the earth
at between 98-115 feet long and weighing 98-115 short tons.

Check your voter registration status!

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:35:00 +0000

Today's "Google doodle" makes it easy for you to double-check that you are already registered to vote, or to register if you are not! Just go to Google, click on their graphic...

and then use the arrows in the box at the top to navigate to where you need to go. If you click on the arrow next to "show more," you will find the link for checking your registration status.

How much easier can it get? Go on, click! Election Day is approaching!

This week at the library...

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 17:00:00 +0000

TUESDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

8+9 BOOK CLUB
The club has read and will discuss Starflight, by Melissa Landers. This club is for enrolled teens only and is full; to be placed on the waiting list, contact awilliams@burbankca.gov.

WEDNESDAY
Central Library, 5:30 p.m.

MEETING:
FRIENDS OF THE BURBANK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Buena Vista Branch, 6:00 p.m.

FAMILY SOCK HOP
Shake, rattle and roll on over to the library. Grab your poodle skirt and your leather jacket and bring the whole family to hop, bop, and twist the night away! Please bring a new pair of socks to donate to Ascencia, a local organization that provides a range of programs and housing to those in need. Bring your camera for the fun photo op.

THURSDAY
Central Library, 10:00 a.m.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

BABY STORYTIME (under 12 months):

Northwest Branch: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Registration is required. Please call 818 238-5640 to sign up. Fall Session begins September 11 and ends on November 13, 2018.. Songs, stories, and rhymes for children under 12 months.

TODDLER STORYTIMES (under age 3):

Buena Vista Branch: Thursdays and Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.
Central Library: Fridays @ 10:00 a.m.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES (ages 3-5):Central Library: Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

Northwest Branch: Wednesdays @ 10:00 a.m.

BILINGUAL STORYTIME: ENGLISH/ARMENIAN
Central Library, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Bilingual Storytime երկլեզու Հեքիաթի Ժամ
In English & Armenian Անգլերեն եվ Հայերեն

Come and enjoy stories and songs!
Եկեք եվ վայելեք պատմություններ եվ երգեր

Library Card Month

noreply@blogger.com (EMME) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 16:30:00 +0000

As we mentioned at the beginning of September, it's Library Card Month! You may not know that we have some new digital toys for those with cards from Burbank Public Library...

On our website main page (burbanklibrary.org), click on "E-LIBRARY" to discover FLIPSTER and HOOPLA.

FLIPSTER is a free digital magazine service, a next-generation digital magazine solution that makes it easy for you to read your favorite magazines on your computer or mobile device. There are 20 popular magazine titles available to you.

HOOPLA is a digital streaming service for library users to access eBooks, audio books, music, movies, and TV shows using portable devices like smartphones and tablets.

Back on the website main page, click on "RESEARCH" to discover Britannica School, and Britannica Escolar.

Britannica School is for all grades and all reading abilities, offering thousands of up-to-date, curated, and curriculum-relevant articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, research tools, recommended Web sites, at three separate levels—Elementary, Middle, or High.

Britannica Escolar is the leading knowledge-building resource that is universally trusted for accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish. Bienvenido a Britannica Escolar, un recurso informativo para la educación primaria y secundaria que es seguro, actualizado y apropiado para cada nivel educativo.

Just a few more things you can do with YOUR LIBRARY CARD.