EConnect May 2024

E-CONNECT | MAY 2024 UPDATE FROM THE ALTADENA LIBRARIES

The Main Library will be closed on Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day.

The Bob Lucas Library is currently closed for renovations.

We Are Hiring (PAID) Summer Interns!

Teen Interns
(Ages 14-17)
Applications Due: May 3

We are hiring two (2) summer teen interns — ages 14-17 years — who can secure a work permit and are enrolled in high school with guardian signed approval. Intern pay is $16 per hour.

You will primarily support Lunch at the Library & Youth/Teen programming (June 3 - Aug. 2). Application materials due May 3. Details at altadenalibrary.org/employment

Adult Interns (18+)
Applications Due: May 10

We are hiring summer adult interns for for various areas of service:

Information Technology
Technical Services
Marketing
Public Services

These are paid internships! Application materials due May 10! Find out more and how to apply at

altadenalibrary.org/employment

SAVE THE DATE:
Summer Reading Kickoff
Saturday, June 1 • 10am-12pm
Main Library

Come celebrate the kickoff of our summer program. Sign up for our reading challenge and enjoy a fun-filled morning at the library!

Activities will include:

summer reading program sign-up
upcycled eco crafts
airbrush face painting
jumbo games on the lawn
animal "meet and greet" with Wild Wonders
coffee and plants available for purchase

Friends of the Altadena Library Book Sale
Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19
Main Library Parking Lot

Join us for a Friends of the Altadena Library book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, at the Main Library. Only Friends can shop from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, but you can become a member on site by joining the Friends for $10.

Second Saturday: Stone Soul
Saturday, May 11 • 7-9pm
Main Library

Join us for a free concert with Stone Soul, a classic soul & Motown tribute band. Food & drink will be available.

This program is made possible by the Friends of the Altadena Library and the Altadena Library Foundation.

Introducing the 2024-2026 Altadena Poets Laureate!

Sehba Sarwar and Lester Graves Lennon have been selected as Altadena Poets Laureate for 2024-2026. For full bios, please visit altadenalibrary.org/poetry.

Sehba Sarwar, Poet Laureate for Community Events

Sehba Sarwar creates text and art that tackle displacement, migration, and women’s issues. The second edition of her novel, Black Wings, was released in 2019 (Veliz Books). Her essays and poems have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Creative Time Reports, Asia: Magazine of Asian Literature, Callaloo, Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere while her short stories are anthologized in Feminist Press, Akashic Books, and Harper Collins India.

Lester Graves Lennon, Poet Laureate Editor in Chief

Lester Graves Lennon is the poetry editor for Rosebud magazine and an investment banker whose career in public finance exceeds 40 years. His first book of poetry, The Upward Curve of Earth and Heavens (2001), can be found in 70 public and university libraries including the Los Angeles Public Library, Columbia, Yale, Oxford and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received his B.A. in English. His second book of poetry, My Father Was a Poet, was published in 2013. His third poetry book, Lynchings: Postcards from America, was published in 2022. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021 and 2023.

We Invite You to Become a Literacy Tutor!

Our tutors empower adult learners by teaching basic reading, writing and functional literacy skills. After completing a self-paced, online training module and being matched with a learner, tutors and learners meet 1 to 2 hours per meeting at least once a week at the library or other location based on their schedules. Tutors must commit to a minimum of six months.

To learn more about our tutoring program, go to

www.altadenalibrary.org/literacy.

To read the inspiring story of an adult learner, visit

https://www.altadenalibrary.org/altadena-adult-learner-wins-writing-award/

May the Fourth Be with Us ... and You!

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 | 10AM-12PM MAIN LIBRARY

Join us for this special themed program.

10am-12pm - Crafts and activities (including light saber making, button making, photo booth and more)
10:30-11:30am - Visit by Darth Vader
11:30am-12pm - Costume Contest (ages 0-17, 18+)

This program is open to all ages! Costumes are encouraged. Supplies are limited and can be enjoyed on a first come, first served basis. Registration recommended but not required.

Open Mic Night
Monday, May 6 • 6-7:30pm
Callisto Tea House (1359 N. Altadena Dr)

Japanese Koto Music
with Kozue Matsumoto and the CalArts Japanese Ensemble

Tuesday, May 7 • 6-7pm

Main Library Community Room

In celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, join us for a special performance of Japanese Koto Music with Kozue Matsumoto and the CalArts Japanese Ensemble. Space is limited and registration required.

Google Suite Training

3-4pm • Main Library Community Room

Join us for a two-part series where you can learn the basics of Google Suite! Google Suite is a free online tool to help boost productivity for professional and personal projects.

Session 1 will cover the basics of Gmail, Calendar, and Google Meet.
Session 2 will cover how to use Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Attendance at both sessions is not mandatory, and bringing your own computer to work on is strongly encouraged. Space is limited and registration is required. Sign up for one or both sessions.

Makoto Taiko Drummers

Saturday, May 11 • 10-11am

Main Library Parking Lot

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, join us for a Makoto Taiko drumming performance by the Pasadena Makoto Taiko drummers. Makoto Taiko is a Pasadena-based nonprofit cultural arts organization that teaches and performs Japanese taiko drumming with intention and sincerity as a musical and physical practice.

Women Who Submit Presents Making the Connection to Libraries & Librarians

Saturday, May 11 • 10am-1:30pm
Main Library Community Room

Learn to Juggle!
Monday - Thursday, May 13-16
4-5pm • Main Library Community Room

Learn to Juggle is a 4-day workshop series where children, ages 9-12, learn the basics of juggling. The goal of these sessions is to learn the three-ball cascade, the most versatile of basic juggling patterns! Join members of the South Pasadena Juggling Club to learn a new skill.

Please register only if you can attend all 4 workshops.

Handmade Selves Exhibition Artist Reception
Tuesday, May 14 • 5:30-7:30pm
Main Library Community Room

Handmade Selves is an exhibition of senior projects created by the 2024 graduating class of the Pasadena Waldorf High School. Join us for an artist reception on Tuesday, May 14. The exhibition is on display at the Main Library from May 7 to June 25.

Works on display include a playable hand-built electric guitar, garments made from living plants, a choreography about emotions, photorealistic drawings of hands, time lapse footage of fungal growth, a piano composition about Hiroshima and more.

Fab Lab Hours Extended

In addition to our Tuesday and Saturday hours, we now have Fab Lab hours every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Fab Lab Sound Series

Sound Walk and Field Recording • Thursday, May 16 • 3-4pm

Found Sound Songcraft • Thursday, May 30 • 3-5:30pm

You will learn about and practice intentional listening skills with Elijah Pouges, AKA BRZ, a musician and sound artist in Los Angeles. We will learn how to listen for sounds, record them using field recording equipment, and plan for the second workshop's song creation project.

This will be a two-part workshop. Space is limited, and registration required.

The sound walk and field recording is on May 16, and please be prepared to move from the library to nearby areas via the sidewalk for 30-45 minutes. On May 30, you will learn to incorporate your recordings into a musical project. We will be using StudioOne audio software in the Fab Lab.

Meet Us on the Lawn for Yoga with Merry!
Friday: May 17, May 24 & May 31
9-10am • Main Library Front Lawn

In May, we invite you to a yoga movement series with Merry Birchfield.

Space is limited, and you need to commit to three fun days. The three sessions are a single series so only one registration is required. All skill levels are welcome. You will need to fill out a waiver of liability before the first class starts.

Children's Author Judy Campbell-Smith Presents 'Ice Cream Everywhere'

Saturday, May 18 • 11am-12pm

Main Library Community Room

Join author Judy Campbell-Smith as she reads her book, "Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World." Learn about the joy ice cream brings to kids in different countries. Stay for the Q&A with the author, book signing, ice cream-themed activities, and eat some yummy frozen treats!

Enchanted Garden Workshop for Children
(ages 8-12)
Saturday, May 18, 2-4pm
Main Library Community Room

Join artist and educator Leigh Adams for an enchanted garden workshop. Children ages 8 - 12 will create an enchanted garden made of various recycled materials. All supplies are provided. Registration required.

You can also enjoy an exhibition of Enchanted Gardens from April 30 to May 30 in the Main Library glass display case. Explore creative thinking and a world of enchanted gardens - miniature nature scenes made with recycled materials by children from the Norma Coombs Elementary School.

Forget-Me-Not Dementia Care & Resources
Thursday, May 23, 7-8:30pm
Main Library Community Room

Join us for a panel discussion about dementia care and resources from a variety of perspectives. Speakers will share tips followed by a Q&A.

Huntington Health Blood Drive
Friday, May 24 & Saturday, May 25
9am-3:15pm • Bloodmobile in Main Library Parking Lot

Donate blood and help save lives! All donors receive a $10 gift card. Please call or text Ida at 626-676-3035 to schedule your donation. We welcome walk-ins!

The day of your donation:

Eat a meal before donating blood.
Be well hydrated.
Bring your picture ID.

May Events for All Ages

Chess Night, every Monday (except for May 27), 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Main Library Reading Court

Enjoy Petite Library Multi-Language Storytimes This Month

Korean Storytime, Thursday, May 9, 5:00-5:30 p.m., Main Library Community Room
French Storytime, Friday, May 17, 5:00-5:30 p.m., Main Library Community Room
Korean Storytime, Wednesday, May 22, 5:00-5:30 p.m., Main Library Community Room

Tween Zine Making Workshop with Rachel Curry
Saturday, May 25 • 10am-12pm
Main Library Community Room

In this tween workshop with teaching artist and zinester Rachel Curry, participants will learn about the history of zines while creating their own one of a kind zine using collage and mixed media techniques. Registration required. Ages 8-12 welcomed.

May Events for Children

Children's Seasonal Craft AT MAIN LIBRARY, Wednesday, May 1, 4-5 p.m., Main Library Community Room, Registration required

Family Storytime at Loma Alta Park, Wednesday, May 8 & 22, 4-5 p.m., Social Hall at Loma Alta Park

Stay & Play in May at the Altadena Main Library!

Sensory Play • Wednesday, May 1, 10:30-11:15am • Main Library Community Room
Bug-Themed STEAM Play • Wednesday, May 8, 10:30-11:15am • Main Library Community Room
Nature Tails Storytime with Eaton Canyon • Wednesday, May 15, 10:30-11:15am • Main Library Community Room

For children ages 0-5 and their caregivers!

May Events for Teens

Teen Poetry Club, Saturday, May 11, 12-2pm, Main Library Small Meeting Room. Moderated by WriteGirl/Bold Ink Writers, this is a trans and LGBTQ friendly space to learn and build poetry writing skills, share your work, and get inspired.

Teen Volunteer Orientation, every Thursday, 5-6 p.m., Main Library Teen Space.

Teens (ages 14-17) are invited to volunteer and can earn service hours. Learn more at https://www.altadenalibrary.org/teens.

Teens! Take Up Space! Mental Health Awareness Month Display

Friday, May 3 • 4-5:30pm

Main Library Teen Space

This month, come by to the Teen Space to help create an interactive display for the library. Collaborate with the Teen Librarian on a Mental Health Awareness Month display in the Teen Space! Bring your ideas, book recommendations, and creative vision to this program.

All teens (ages 13-17) are welcome

Teen Puppet Builder Workshop
Tuesday, May 21 • 6-7:30pm
Main Library Community Room

Come learn about Madison Girifalco’s work and how she became a puppet builder. Get hands-on experience on the basics of constructing a cardboard puppet!

All supplies are provided. Limited spots available, and registration is required!

About the Artist

Madison Girifalco is an immersive installation artist, puppet-fabricator, and children’s book author. She uses puppetry to foster community through immersive arts and storytelling and has built puppets for Watcher's Puppet History, The Try Guys, as well as many commercial, TV, and film productions and art installations like her current project Holding Space.

May Events for Adults

Huntington Health Screenings, Monday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Main Library

Adult Craft: Jellyfish Air Plant Holder, Wednesday, May 15, 4 to 5 p.m., Main Library Small Meeting Room, Registration required

Adult Craft Hour: Jellyfish Air Plant Holder, Friday, May 17, Plant Material
3081 Lincoln Ave, Registration required

Cozy Crafters Club, Friday, May 24, 4-6 p.m., Callisto Tea House. Bring your own project to work on or dip into our supply basket to try a new craft you've been curious about.

English Conversation Club, Every Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Main Library Small Meeting Room. Practice learning, listening and speaking English in a friendly setting.

Book Clubs

No Guilt Book Club

Saturday, May 11

4 to 5 p.m.

Zoom

Books:

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

True Crime All The Time Virtual Book Club

Saturday, May 25

4 to 5 p.m.

Zoom

Book: Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

Do you know? With your Altadena Library card you can...

Conduct scholarly research, talk to online tutors (for K-12) through Brainfuse, and get training and job help, all through our online databases.

Watch movies and stream music with hoopla, read & listen to books on cloudLibrary, and peruse thousands of newspapers with pressreader. Access these apps here.

Borrow, browse, pick up and return books and other materials at our vending machines at Prime Pizza in Altadena and the Main Library.

Check out items like early equity kits, a pickle ball set, and blood pressure monitors. Search for Library of Things at catalog.altadenalibrary.org.

Register for Self-Service Extended Access — from 8 to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday at the Main Library — at altadenalibrary.org/extendedaccess.

We also offer a Homebound Delivery Service for eligible Altadena residents. To learn about eligibility or to request the service, visit altadenalibrary.org/homebound.

SAVE THE DATE: Taste of 'Dena

Saturday, Sept. 28

Altadena Main Library

Join the Altadena Library Foundation for its annual fundraiser, a celebration to support the Altadena Libraries! Visit AltadenaLibraryFoundation.org for details!

Support Your Altadena Libraries

Altadena Library Foundation strengthens the mission and resources of the libraries through fundraising and advocacy. Learn more at

www.altadenalibraryfoundation.org.

The Friends of the Altadena Library stimulate public interest, assist with funding to purchase materials, and support cultural and educational programs. Become a member at

www.altadenalibrary.org/friends.