Good Books For Young Souls: Public Libraries in Southern California

Showing posts with label Public Libraries in Southern California. Show all posts

Thursday, November 7, 2019

TAKE A PEEK AT THIS AWESOME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIBRARY WITH ME!

Because of its famed children's area, I've had the Cerritos Millennium Library on my bucket list for quite awhile now. I finally made a quick trip there! What an amazing two-story space for books, reading, art, fish (yes, you read that correctly!), and multi-media. Honestly, it's an architectural marvel!

First, the Children's Library...

My grandchildren would LOVE this space! There's even an aquarium (sorry, no photos because it's temporarily closed until mid-November.)

Fish, dinosaurs, a lighthouse, trees, a model space shuttle - does it get any better?? Yes! Read on...

The Cerritos Library has gone through many changes and renovations, and the resulting designs, themes, and elements are truly incredible.

This library was first dedicated on October 13, 1973, in honor of First Lady Patricia Nixon (a Cerritos, California native) and all other First Ladies, both past and present. I appreciated the tribute to them all...

The aesthetic appeal - with cozy ready areas and study spaces, chandeliers, craftsman carpentry, and a futuristic style young adult area is only part of this library's strength.

Its services are cutting edge, with interactive learning, a high tech conference center, museum quality art displays, and over 200 computer workstations. Amazing, and well worth a trip!

OLD WORLD READING ROOM

GREAT ROOM

YOUNG ADULT AREA

I hope you'll make time to visit libraries with your kids (or by yourself) soon. I can't wait to go back to the Cerritos Library to explore their books and hang out in one of their fun spaces and read and read and read....

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

About as Close to The Emerald City as You Can Get: Hotel del Coronado!

We just returned from an idyllic family vacation at the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego, California. The weather was sublime.

The stunning Hotel del Coronado - The Emerald City?

And guess who else loved this place -- L. Frank Baum, who first visited the turn-of-the century seaside resort with his family in 1904. He wrote at least three of his Oz books while staying at "The Del"...

Although L. Frank Baum hailed from the Midwest, he preferred to winter in the warm and welcoming sunshine of the picturesque community of Coronado, California, just across the bay from San Diego.

Doesn't the Emerald City look familiar?

Some people think the author based his design of the bejeweled Emerald City on the Hotel del Coronado; but Baum had already written the first book which included the fictitious Emerald City (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in1900), before ever visiting the hotel in 1904.

L. Frank Baum had storytime with children on the lawn at the
Hotel del Coronado. (photo 1904, source]

Still, you can see why Baum found the hotel so entrancing. With its whimsical design, vibrant red roofs, magical spires, and one-of-a-kind setting, the "Hotel Del" is as close to Emerald City as you'll ever get!

And Baum is credited with designing the stunning chandeliers in the "Crown Room" of the hotel - don't you think they're fit for the Cowardly Lion? [From Material Dreams: Southern California Through the 1920's by Kevin Starr, source]

Chandeliers in the Crown Room, of the Hotel del Coronado,
designed by Baum [source]

L. Frank Baum - who suffered from a weak heart - usually resided at the hotel for months at a time; in later years he would sometimes rent a house nearby. During his years in Coronado, Baum wrote the third, fourth, and fifth books of the Oz series: Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (1908); The Road to Oz (1909); and The Emerald City (1910).

The house L. Frank Baum's would sometimes rent on Star Park Circle,
just around the corner from the Hotel Del Coronado. [source]

Something else to see in Coronado: The children's area of the Coronado Public Library is home to nine beautiful glass panels (a permanent exhibit, by Brenda Smith) displaying Oz culture and featuring many of Baum's characters.

Wizard of Oz Glass panels, Coronado Public Library [source]

Detail: Dorothy and the Munchkins [source]

Baum moved to Hollywood in 1910, where he spent the last nine years of his life at his home, "Ozcot" (he was one of the community's earliest residents).

He passed away in 1919, but his memory and his legacy in California cultural history live on.

I hope you can "follow the yellow brick road" someday to Coronado Island, and the Hotel Del! You won't be disappointed.

Source info: "The Hotel del Coronado and L. Frank Baum"; and "How Frank Baum Became the Wizard of Coronado".
Scanned color illustrations of the first edition OZ books can be seen here.

Friday, February 15, 2013

EVER BEEN ON A BLIND DATE...with a BOOK?

source

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and also "International Book Giving Day". I wanted to donate some books, and decided to support my local library at the same time by donating some used children's books I knew I could buy from our library bookstore...

With grandbaby in tow, my daughter and I went to one of our local libraries, where we were greeted by the cutest book display I've seen in a long time. There was a sign that read,

"HAVE A BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK!"

It seems that libraries (and high schools) all across the U.S. are getting into the act, trying to encourage people to read, and using Valentine's Day as their happy medium.

Library card holders can check out a book from a shelf full of books wrapped in plain paper - their genre and title are hidden from the reader.

Written directly across the wrapped book were words and phrases with hints telling library patrons a little about what’s inside; just enough to pique their interest! (The library barcode is on the back, for secretive check-out.)

You unwrap your book when you get home, perhaps discovering a new favorite book or author.

The best part?

"If you don't enjoy the book, bring it back with no hurt feelings or awkward breakups."

So - what books did I end up with to donate on "International Book Giving Day"? They were both chapter books. (I left them anonymously on a playground park bench with a note.) Here are some hints:

Book #1: "Meet a Girl"; "American"; "Victorian"
Book #2: "Bear"; "Orange Marmalade"; "Train Station"; "England"

Guesses?

How cute is this display? This library REALLY got into the Valentine spirit! [source]

Next year, inspired by the photo above, I think I'll wrap my books to donate as "Mystery Valentines" (kids don't go on blind dates!)

Even Maggie Smith has something to say about it! [source]

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Road Trip and A Library Pit Stop

Yesterday was another beautiful January day in sunny Southern California. Cold, but sunny.

Driving back home along the coast after a visit with my sister and her family, I decided to make a quick "pit stop" just five minutes off the 101 freeway to the Camarillo Public Library.

I have a friend who just raves about the children's area. Well, the children's section isn't the only amazing thing this library has to offer: the outside of the library and the entryway have the feeling of a nice hotel!

This library was designed by TDS (The Design Studio). They have created several other beautiful civic buildings in California, including nine libraries. Click this link, to see if there is one near you. This 65,000 square foot library in the Spanish style has areas inspired by Antonio Gaudi, the California Craftsman, and a children’s area reminiscent of the Spanish explorers and the great children’s novels.

I walked across the parking lot, and was pleased to find a nice "friends of the library" bookstore and patio eating area.

No, this is not Peet's Coffee & Tea (though it is served here), it's the Library Cafe! I got a sandwich and a latte, then set off to explore...

Walking inside, I was greeted by the sight of fresh flowers and a check-in desk. The columns in the children's section were made of huge volumes of books.