Newsletter

Image: Fabiola Manriquez/LA County Library - Foto East LA

Click here for this month's enews: Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, learn about Laptop & Hotspot Loans...and how you can help, take a virtual field trip to the Chicano Resource Center.

Create your own DIY Care Package. Enjoy, be well.

Thank you for keeping your Library strong.

Feature on Film: Hispanic Heritage & 19th Amendment Stories

Life during COVID-19 introduced volunteer Paul Loesch to the Library's digital resources, and hooked him on Kanopy and its free films.

In September, we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month. That rich, wonderful heritage is everywhere to be seen in our community. We are also commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Women Winning the Right to Vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

Here are some resources for both that can be found on Kanopy (https://lacounty.kanopy.com/) - free with your County Library:

Visiones: Latino Art & Culture is a four-part PBS series of explorations of Latino culture (from murals to poetry to hip hop dance, and more) as it has developed over decades.

The History of Spain: Land on the Crossroad
This is a 26 part series dealing with the history, art and culture of Spain and of all the civilizations that influenced Spain’s development. You'll enjoy these fascinating and beautiful episodes.

The Suffragists tells of the political struggle for women’s rights in Mexico, a nice parallel link between our themes of Hispanic Heritage and of Women’s Suffrage. The Suffragists is in Spanish and runs 78 minutes. Unlike many such films, this film does not fall into the easy characterizations of “angels or devils,” but instead offers an even-handed handling of modern political thought in Mexico.

Kanopy has many other films in Spanish, some which are available in both Spanish and English.

While women did not achieve the right to vote until a mere 100 years ago, social justice and the pursuit of women’s suffrage had its beginning during the founding of American Democracy.

Perfect 36: When Women Won the Vote is a 26 minute documentary about the 19th Amendment and the struggles to have it enacted.

Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice is a 56 minute documentary about an amazing woman, too often forgotten for her many achievements and contributions to the social justice struggles which continue today.

Ida B. Wells contributed much to history in her rise from birth into slavery in 1862, to being a writer and part owner of an American newspaper. She was instrumental in the early formation of the NAACP as one of its founders and a key voice in the women's right to vote movement.

Kanopy offers many additional resources like these, available to you - free - with you LA County Library card. Your support keeps your Library strong. Thank you!

We're sharing some of your Library stories. Thank you for making these times brighter!

"During these trying times of the Covid-19 lockdown, my husband and I are both trying to work from home while raising two toddlers. It’s been quite a challenge to attend to our conflicting responsibilities between being a parent and dedicated employee but the Library services have made it a little bit easier.

Before lockdown was announced, we had borrowed about 20 books. Thankfully, the announcement that fees were stalled and we could return our books upon the re-opening of the library has been a godsend.

We read to our children every day and our own book collection was not going to suffice. They needed access to Llama, Llama and to go on a new adventure with Olaf from Frozen. We need a window to the outside, especially in a time when being physically outside requires a face mask.

Image: Lesly M.

My 3 year old daughter has just learned how to read short 3-4 letter words. And I cannot express how invaluable it has been for her to be able to flip through our Library books and find words she can read in her favorite new stories.

Before I returned to the workforce, my kids attended the Smarty Pants storytime program. The Children’s Librarian used to hand out egg shakers and have the kids dance and shake to get them ready to learn.

To this day, my kids and I use those same egg shakers that she gave to us and we Shake Our Sillies Out before we do any “school activities.” I believe this genuinely helps put them in a learning mindset. We work on our letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. It really has helped bring a little order to a time of chaos and double duty parenting.

I have to make my lunch hours and breaks from my accounting job really count and I couldn’t do it without this learned skill.

Actually, let it be known that all the work done by the LA County Librarian workers is vital and of the utmost importance. You all are the gate keepers to literacy for our community. I know that even with a decent wage I could not afford to buy every single book I’ve borrowed from the library. -- Lesly M.

The vote is in...you love your ebooks and audio books...and for a bunch of reasons:

"Thanks to the LA County library having such a diverse collection, I'm usually able to indulge just about anything I find myself curious about.

As a bibliophile, over the years I found myself unable to physically move my extensive collection of physical books so the digital library and eZine options are are godsend...I hope that provides some insight into an "essential service" that continues to bring me joy (and sanity!) despite the disruptions we are facing today. Mahalo and stay safe. - Noriko W.

In recent weeks, we have started using the e-audio books on Overdrive for the first time. The service has been invaluable and enjoyable! My child has enough visual screen time for distance learning with teachers and related coursework, so we opted for in-home listening of the e-audio books on weekends....This week, I introduced him to Harry Potter. He is also a long time fan of the Gerenomio Stilton series and the narrator is excellent! On occasion, we have also borrowed the e-videos for family nights. Thank you again for sustaining our community. - Grace M.

During normal time I would indulge in a weekly visit to the library to resupply with books, or just soak in the feeling of being among books while browsing for something interesting.

Since the lockdown started, I have both read and listened to a slew of books. I especially appreciate having an audio book going while I take my daily walk. And if the weather is not too walking-inducive - rainy, or too hot - the prospect of the book is what guarantees to get me out. - Ioana M.

OverDrive is amazing! I have always preferred a hard copy book. Safer at home has brought an unexpected benefit - more time to read, and so many cozy eBook mysteries at my finger tips. I average one book a day. It keeps me calm in these unique times. - Hilary S. P.

I was very fortunate that I had 10 books being held for me the Friday before the stay at home orders went into place. I just recently started reading again and it's been really convenient to pickup books at Wiseburn. I'm actually looking forward to getting through as many of these as I can and filling my down time with some extra reading. My wife prefers audio books and she's been using the web service to find her favorites. Myself, my wife, and kids all enjoy the library. - Jeff M.

Currently, I am using the service to borrow audio books and download them on my phone (using OverDrive), and listen to them during my daily walks. Having the audio-books motivates me to take my daily walks since I look forward to continue on my "reading." - Rozita M.

...and a lot of you are looking ahead to when the Library reopens.

I love my LA County library! Several years ago I started a quest to read every book on a list I found of the 100 Greatest Novels Ever. It has taken me years, and the books are not always easy to find! I struggled until I started requesting them through my local library in Duarte. What a gift! It is so easy and quick to request the next book on my list, and it is so fun to get the email that my book is waiting for me. It is like a little gift to see my book on the shelf with my name sticking out. - Meredith L.

Stay tuned...we'll keep posting your stories. We're overflowing with them.

Thank you!

Read past newsletters (click on the links)