Fall is the time when thoughts turn to consuming pumpkin-spice baked goods and other delicious treats from the market or local farms. This is the season to feel the warmth emanating from kitchens…
Over the years, the witch has become a popular figure and costume choice for our modern commercialized holiday rituals. And the stormy events of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692-3, which we tend to…
David J. Skal is the author of numerous books, including Hollywood Gothic, The Monster Show, Screams of Reason and Something in the Blood. Skal lives in Glendale, CA. His latest book is Fright…
This post is the fifteenth in a series of excerpts serializing the book Feels Like Home. Chapter 7 Los Angeles Central Library Project – The Short Version - part 1 by Betty Gay Teoman, Central Library…
In the 21st century what constitutes a family unit is varied. However, most will agree: spending quality time with loved ones is very beneficial. Our families are an important foundation that cannot…
Lisa Morton is a screenwriter, author of non-fiction books, Bram Stoker Award-winning prose writer, and Halloween expert whose work was described by the American Library Association’s Readers’…
Eating delicious food and dreaming of my next meal is getting me through the COVID-19 pandemic, and I'm guessing the same might be true for you and the kids in your life! Along with the communal joy…
This post is the fourteenth in a series of excerpts serializing the book Feels Like Home. Chapter 6 A Docent’s Life for Me - part 2 by Delores McKinney, Central Library Docent A date was set! The…
It is often assumed that in order to try something new, you must be an expert. For some, the thought of trying something new elicits feelings of inadequacy, and lacking specific skills becomes a…
Natalie Zina Walschots is a writer and game designer whose work includes LARP scripts, heavy metal music journalism, video game lore, and weirder things classified as "interactive experiences." Her…
Recently, California has suffered extreme heat and forest fires. As of October 5, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported that the number of acres burned during…
This post is the thirteenth in a series of excerpts serializing the book Feels Like Home. Chapter 6 A Docent’s Life for Me - part 1 by Delores McKinney, Central Library Docent I have always loved…
Financial literacy in the 21st Century is critical for all to learn. There is no better way to learn these essential skills, than first-hand experiences with earning and managing money. It’s…
Lindsay Ellis is an author, Hugo finalist, and video essayist who creates online content about media, narrative, and film theory. After earning her bachelor's in Cinema Studies from NYU's Tisch School…
In celebration of Octavia E. Butler’s birthday this year, the Octavia Lab began making coloring pages to celebrate lesser-known heroes in California. As lab staff, we were deeply affected by the COVID…
This post is the twelfth in a series of excerpts serializing the book Feels Like Home. Chapter 5 Post-Fire Memories: Rio Vista, Spring Street, etc. - part 2 by Bob Anderson - Librarian, Literature &…
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”—Dr. Seuss, The Lorax Although there are limitations for kids when it comes to impacting our democratic…
Author Laura Sassi delights her young readers with her rhythmic stories. Her work has appeared in many children's publications like Cricket, Ladybug, and Spider. Among her books are Goodnight, Manger…
With trick or treating discouraged and haunted houses officially canceled, this year’s Halloween will be a bit more low key. But that doesn’t mean it has to be less frightening! We’ve got plenty of…
Elsa Hart is the author of several acclaimed mystery novels set in eighteenth-century China, including City of Ink, one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2018. She was born in Rome, but her…
I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this new book, Read Me Los Angeles: Exploring L.A.’s Book Culture from Prospect Park Books. I purchased a copy of right before the Safer at Home initiative…
This post is the eleventh in a series of excerpts serializing the book Feels Like Home. Chapter 5 Post-Fire Memories: Rio Vista, Spring Street, etc. - part 1 by Bob Anderson - Librarian, Literature &…
A common wish for adults is to return to childhood where it's assumed stress is non-existent. Although memories of play are at the forefront of this erroneous belief, stress is very real for kids in…
Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) is the author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed young adult novels. She has advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science…
