I Gotsta Roll!

Hi!

Today, I think, is my last day at Anacostia Interim Library. I am moving over to the Arts/Music Division at the Martin Luther King Library at 9th and G St. NW next Monday. I am very excited about the move because I love music and am an artist-hence the "Pittore", but I will miss my friends here at ANA.

I am hopefully going to start a blog for the division to promote their collections (which is exciting because it has a lot of out of print art books!), programming, events, and exhibitions that I will be undertaking. They already have some content on their DCPL Division site.

It has been a real pleasure and learning experience to be with you. I am not going to disappear completely. I have a studio down at 13th & Good Hope Rd. SE, so you might see me hanging around Younis Deli.

I Feel Like I Ate A Whale

I finally finished Moby Dick! And let me tell you, it is hardly about Ahab and the Leviathan. Only about 200 pages out of 521 are about the three masted whaler, the Pequod. It is full of older American language, detailed sailing jargon, old salts, and beautiful descriptions and musings about the sea.

My copy had a lot of contemporary reviews of the book. I learned that some reviewers at the time hated the structure of the story. There are a great many digressions in the book as I have mentioned. One British writer gave it a pretty scathing review. Melville did call the British Whale Fishery somewhat less robust that the American Whale Fishery.

A Friendly Note About Computing At Your Library

The Library is phasing out floppy and CD Rom compatible computers. All of the replacement, or new computers that we get come without floppy drives and CD Rom drives. This means that you need to come equipped with a USB devise, aka "memory stick", "flash drive", "thumb drive" to save your work.

Take A Bite Out Of Books! But Don't Eat Them.

Hey! Teen Read Week is coming up fast. October 12-18th to be precise.

Read something, then tell me about it here, or here.

If you need suggestions I am full of them. There are also plenty of suggestions here, here, and here.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!

Here is a menu of "horror" titles that we have at the library to get you primed for the haunting season. This isn't a definitive list, but it' s a good start.

They are listed in alpha by author. (that's alphabetical to you, mortal)

Abarat, Clive Barker *

Killing Mr. Griffin, Lois Duncan
Gothic: 10 Original Dark Tales
Death Note, Tsugumi Obha
Cirque du Freak, Darren Shan
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley **
The Taste of Night, R.L. Stine
Dracula, Bram Stoker **

* = audio download availability
**= downloadable as audio and ebook!

Reading Recommendation (Poetry)

A book that I have been really excited about is simply called Carver: a life in poems, by Marilyn Nelson. Basically it charts the life of George Washington Carver in gloriously constructed poems. The book is slim but powerful. If you are a fan of Michael Ondaatje's Collected Works of Billy the Kid (one of my all time favorite books), Carver is similar in style and structure.

You may find it in a "Young Adult" area of your library, 811 N428C. That is, unless some intrepid reader has already snatched it. Which they should.

p.s. Don't be put off by the "young adult" classification. It doesn't diminish this book's brilliance.

GET YOU KEYBOARDS A'CLACKIN'!!!

High School Seniors listen up! The Washington Regional Transplant Community is sponsoring an essay contest. First prize is a $5000 Scholarship!
Second Prize is a $3000 Scholarship!

Big Money towards your educations! All it's going to costs you is a 1000 word persuasive essay about organ and tissue donation. That is roughly 2 pages typed. I know you guys type 1600 pages into your MySpace pages every afternoon. So I don't want any excuses.

Follow the above link for details.

Required Reading Is Flippin' AWESOME!

I am reading a little 150 - something year old book right now called Moby Dick. It is pretty amazing because chapters that you really shouldn't be interested in, like the chapter I just finished about rope, are totally engrossing. I also like Ishmael's conclusion that whales are indeed fish, regardless of what others have claimed. Ishmael, the narrator, also goes on and on about the accurate and inaccurate; the good and bad depictions of whales, and whaling in paintings, etchings, engravings, and woodworking. There's a chapter for each of these subjects. Sometimes two.

On a related note the BEEB (BBC) website has a little item about whales, whaling, ecology, and Moby D. I do detect an ecological undercurrent in Moby Dick. Though, it could be because ecology/sustainability is on everyone's mind right now.

I Pledge Allegiance to the Constitution of America...

Tomorrow is Constitution Day! You can celebrate with the DC Public Library and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton at 6:30 pm in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King Library. Details are here.

You might want to sharpen your knowledge of our Nation's Constitution, in which case you may visit the Constitution via Cornell Law. Another option is to call up Barack Obama. He was a professor of Constitutional Law. Just saying.

Another option is the "Charters of Freedom" at the National Archives website, where you may view the Declaration of Independence, The US Constitution, and The Bill of Rights.

Jazzmatazz

Holy Cow! The Real McCoy is going to be performing at the 4th Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival this year! This is really exciting!

Monty Alexander, who I saw perform at the National Gallery of Art a few years ago, is playing along with Christian McBride, Taj Mahal, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. This is, like, an A-List lineup through and through.

For the full (A-List) lineup and some listening visit dejazzfest.

Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest

This Just In!

The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is hosting an oratorical Contest on Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 9am-12pm with an 11 am performance and discussion with Kevin McIlvaine.

Contact the FRDO for details.

Today You Should be Voting

Today is voting day here in DC for something like 9 of 13 council seats! Get out there!

On the national scene, incase you haven't seen it already, there is a letter regarding Sarah Palin written by Anne Kilkenny. Ms. Kilkenny is a censorship fighting librarian from Wasilla, Alaska. The letter surfaced last Friday and is illuminating.

And finally...

There is a mural going up on the side of what used to be "Martin Luther King Jr. Grocery" near the intersection of Howard Rd. and MLK Jr. Ave. I have yet again been caught without my camera, but that's okay... the mural isn't quite finished yet. I'll put a picture up when they finish it. It's shaping up really nicely!

Belated Congratulations Sandwich!

My friend over at Watha T so graciously informed the blogoshpere that the sandwich had a birthday on August 20 th. Its 245 th. In fact August was National Sandwich month. I celebrated with a sandwich of course, but didn't even realize I was celebrating. I was just having lunch.

This date will be forever marked on my calender from now on. August 20, 1762. Don't forget.

A Bug's Strife

You may have missed this last Friday, but the NPR show "Science Friday" broadcast a story about how flies are so good at evading our deadly attacks.

There is even super slo-mo video demonstrating their movements in preparation for, and during flight. It's really pretty gross. In a hypnotic way.

Yesterday in 1920

88 years ago, thanks to the 19th Amendment and the over 50 years of work by such luminaries as Lucy Stone and Susan B. Anthony, women had finally achieved suffrage.

"On August 26 the Nineteenth Amendment was proclaimed by the secretary of state as being part of the Constitution of the United States. Women in the United States were enfranchised on an equal basis with men."

The text reads as follows:
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopedia Online Edition. 27 Aug. 2008

http://library.eb.com/eb/article-9077370

Vote Like You Are On Fire!

Ward 8 City Council election coming up. Stay informed and stay tuned.

First up: Washington Post.

Good Luck in Geometry Junior!

Since school in DC has officially begun, let us review the "rules of the road" regarding truancy and other guidelines for the DC Public Library.

As an added bonus, I'll throw in a link to DC Public Schools for events, calenders, walking routes, athletics, etc.

Hulk Smash!

As promised oh so long ago... 

Here is a drawing I made with some kids that I was trying to encourage to draw. It quickly devolved into the kids watching me draw, and being quite bossy about it too. This is the only one that didn't walk out of the library.

p.s. We are going to be ordering some new music very soon so send in ideas if you have any.

Around The Eastern Branch

Photos of the Savoy Elementary School are at And Now, Anacostia.

AND...

Did you know there are Ward 7 & 8 Council seats up for grabs this September?
You better get involved and get registered.

Internet Friends are Still Real Friends

Our Mothership (MLK Library) has a Myspace page!
Pretty exciting!
What's next I wonder...maybe a blog?

Coo-Coo For Google Puffs!

I am going Coo-Coo Google Puffs over here! I have looked at where I used to live in Bell' Italia like 7 times today. I probably looked at your house too. Go get your own Google Earth. That is, if you didn't already, say, back in the early aughts.

From now on whenever you kids ask me where something on planet Earth is...Ker-Pow! You're headed to a computer and learning about using this awesome geography tool.

Chess! Ongoing

Our chess program continues and the numbers are building.

Swing by either on Tuesday or Thursday from 6-8pm to get a game going or receive instruction if you are a little rusty.

Reading is Different

Our dear colleague Sonali over at Cleveland Park Library posted this NY Times article about literacy today and it's changing meaning. It is a very interesting article.

Really, though, isn't it telling that libraries have blogs now?

If you wish to follow up with the NEA study "To Read Or Not To Read", published last November, you may download it here. It's 99 pages, but the "Executive Summary" is 20 pages. Your choice, but it does reflect your commitment to reading. Just saying.

August 9th! (part 2)

The Honfleur Gallery is having a reception for their East of The River Exhibition on Saturday at 7pm. The show features work by people in the neighborhood, or tied to the neighborhood.

If you have ever been to an opening at Honfleur before you already know it is going to be a good time. I believe there is going to be a poetry reading during the reception as well!

August 9th Event! Mark Your Calander! NOW!

The Stone Soul Picnic over at RFK Lot number 7. DCPL will be represented and will host book talks from local celebrities and authors, including the likes of Council Chair Vincent Gray.

You'll also learn about all the new downloadable media available at the library. In case you can't wait to learn about this, and who could blame you, go here. (You can download eBooks, movies, and music to you Mac, PC, iPod, or other mp3 player)

The Stone Soul Picnic last from noon-9pm. From ANA take the B2 toward Mt. Ranier.

This Just In

This just came across our desk late last night...

The United Planning Organization (UPO) Anacostia Community Service Center is having an Information and Resource Fair on Tuesday August 19th at 1649 Good Hope Road SE. Just down the street from your friendly neighborhood library! It goes from 3pm to 7pm and there will be food, contests, prizes, and games. There will also be a school supply giveaway while supplies last.

A Librarian or two will be there in case you want to stop by and say hello. We won't make you do homework or anything. Not until the 25th, that is.

Troppo Dimenticando

Matthew is sometimes in a hurry and forgets important details like embedding links when people may not know what he's talking about. For instance: In this post he neglected to link to any information about Jack Kirby, the great comic book illustrator, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the great Italian Baroque sculptor and architect.

We will better manage him in the future.

- The Mgmnt

большие плашки автора

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, an important Russian author and Nobel Laureate, died at age 89. He wrote a very important book called A Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich. The book is a tell all about the gulags of Siberia, which the author had survived for eight years, and which were largely kept secret from the Russian people. Mr. Solzhenitsyn changed all of that.

"No Cuiso!", says the Mayor.

I am sure that you have read the Wednesday Post article about kiosk closures and budgetary shortfalls, but it has recently been corrected. Here is the mayor talking about it.

Will the Real Captain Marvel Please Stand Up

HI! Matthew again.

If you have ever been as confused about the Captain Marvel/ Shazam thing as I have, Wikipedia is here to help us.

The reason I mention it is because we just got Volume 1 of Marvel Essential: Captain Marvel in the library today! It features the work of Gil Kane and Roy Thomas primarily. Neither stand up to Jack Kirby, but really who ever did.


I am not sure if it's aesthetics, or silliness, or nostalgia, or all of the above, but I have been crazy about these Kirby/Lee/60's era comics. The drawings are really great! Compositions are crazy Baroque! Better that Bernini! Well, okay, maybe not better than Bernini...got carried away.

The Big Wide World

Did you notice the map icon at the bottom of this very page? It is going to track people who visit our blog. Could be fun.

Library Blog

Oh, and check out our comrade's blog over at Watha T. Daniels Library.
It is also in our blog links on the left.

Amendment

A correction to my last post about what I'm reading this summer. I started reading A Confederacy of Dunces and am completely engrossed.

The main character, Ignasius Reilly, is just like that guy that we all knew, or know, in high school who is a total slob, carrying all of his worldly processions in his duffel bag. This guy is a total disastrous mess, and hilarity ensues.

A friend of mine is planning on writing a book about the author, John Kennedy Toole. No Kidding! I know a writer!

I am not reading the anniversary edition which is pictured. That is a little unfortunate because I would like to read Andrei Codrescu's introduction, as I am a big fan. Mr. Codrescu is also editor of, I should note, Exquisite Corpse.

Wednesday will be FUN DAY!

Tomorrow from 10:30 am - 3:30 pm we are hosting Anacostia Fun Day at the Library!

Magic Momma will be here at 10:30 am.

The rest of the day (weather depending) will be filled with games, crafts, movies, and FREE BOOKS!

I think I can see my house from here!

This photograph was posted by your friend at Anacostia Now. (It is from the DC Historical Society Archives) The photo is of the intersection of MLK Ave. and Good Hope Rd. SE.
Cool isn't it?

There are some other lovely old photos of our lovely old city over on our Washingtoniana Division website.

water....water...water...

Was there water on Mars? NASA thinks so. Does that mean that there were Martians?!

14 Juliette

Yesterday was Bastille Day or la quatorze juliette. Do you know why?

Legend has it that the above painting inspired the storming of the Bastille. It was apparently debuted 5 days prior.

Matt's Summer Reads

HI! Matthew here!

I just wanted to talk about a few books since it's summer and you might be by the pool, your bathtub, or the beach.

Books that I want to read this summer are:

Jack Kirby: King of Comics - because I really have found an appreciation for his art.
Soon I Will Be Invincible (okay, I've already started this one) - because I am a Supernerd.

As I Lay Dying ( I will also accept The Sound and the Fury) - Faulkner. Is there a better thing to read during the hottest months?
Kitchen Confidential - swashbuckling kitchen tales with knives and reduction sauces!

There are probably one thousand others that I can't think of right now.
If you are reading, or have read any of them, let me know.

Our Reader's Advisory section is pretty helpful too.

Hope you summers are going well.

Aperto! (Open!)

The library opened on Tuesday at 9:00 am. We have water!
Toilets flush and drinking fountains gush...Hands are washed and plants grow!

We had to postpone Carl "Quick Draw" Tucker due to the building closure. The new date for his program will be announced soon.

CIUSO

The library is still closed due to the water main break.
Continued apologies for the disruption of service.

Achtung, Cuidado, Attention!!!

Do to a water main break, the library will be closed and it's programs cancelled until further notice. 

WASA has been working on the problem. That is all the information I have so far.

I am sorry for the inconvenience.

p.s. Your next nearest libraries are Francis Gregory, Capitol View, and Southeast

Our Town

Here is some reporting about the Poplar Point Project from dcmetrocentric.com. Also you can see a lot of updates about all Anacostia construction projects (including ours) at anacostianow.blogspot.com. Or just click on their names in the "blog roll" to the left.

School's Out?! YAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHH!

Today is the first day of our semi permanent Drawing Station in the Young Adult section of our library. Near the Graphic Novel section. There are a ton of Manga and Superhero titles to get some inspiration. There are also some graffiti books that look at graffiti allover the world!

Pretty inspiring, say I.

Library Community Meeting Tonight

Don't forget about the Community Meeting here at the Anacostia Library tonight. It starts at 6pm.

Community News: A Sign

Hey! I just put up our new "Community News" sign. It looks great and informative right next door to our "Periodicals" sign.

If you are a community member looking for activities and services help yourself. If you are a community member with activities and services to promote...see one of the friendly librarians for assistance.

Be careful out there. It's hot.

Money matters

We had 15 young adults to sign up and participate in the program presented by Commerce bank. The young adults thought the program was great and most importantly they learned how to create a budget and the correct way to write a check.

Metamorphosis Forms and Activities

Here is your complete guide to Metamorphosis summer reading bonanza, activities and events.
http://www.dclibrary.org/dcpl/lib/dcpl/metamorphosisactivityguidefinal_program.pdf

Here is your Book Review Entry Form too.
http://www.dclibrary.org/dcpl/lib/dcpl/metamorphosis_book_review_entry_form.pdf

The Anacostia Book Club

The Anacostia Book Club is rescheduled for June 14th, 2008 from 2pm to 3pm

Community Meeting

There is a community meeting here at the Anacostia Library on June 12 starting at 6pm. That's a Thursday. We are going to show off our new pile of rubble and tackle design ideas. Community input is key. Come over and tell us what you think.

FYI

The Anacostia Neighborhood Library Book Club meeting had to be moved to June 3rd at 6pm.

BOOOOMMMMM!!!!! BBBAAAAAMMMMMM!!

Today is the big day. The rest of the old Anacostia Library is set to come down.

Our little interim is aquake.

Whoops! Now it's down.

Jacob Lawrence

Today we visited a number of 9th graders at Thurgood Marshall Academy. It was great! Props to Marilyn who "book-talked" Snitch and Fight. She is awesome at leaving the folks wanting more. I promise next time to have something for the dudes. I was focussed on showing off our online stuff and...KAPOW!...the wi-fi at TMA was being worked on that day.

The point is that during my end-of-schpiel quiz-time I talked about Jacob Lawrence and some people didn't know who he was or that he is one of the most important African-American Painters to have ever lived. I promised the students to post a link about him. There.

The Phillips Collection has the Migration Series up right now.

S.O.S MySpace

Also the "Pimp Our Myspace" (can I say that?) contest has begun. Our myspace page needs a little help and I think that some web-savy Anacostia teen can help us out. It's simple! Just design your personal page as you would like to see the library's page look. "Friend" us and post a link to your page in our comment section! There will be a Grand Prize. Deadline is July 30th!

Posting Your Book Reviews

The Metamorphosis summer reading campaign has begun as you all are probably aware. In light of that we have invited our Teen participants to post their book reviews in the "Friend's Comment" section of our myspace page. Remember you have to friend us to post anything.

LIBRARY DEMOLITION? COOL!

LOOK WHAT THEY DID TO THE LIBRARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just kidding...this is what they did!
Thursday at about 1:30pm the process of demolishing the old Anacostia Library began. Ketchum students (pictured in yellow hard hats) were there to witness the mayhem. The machines are rattling away even as I write this.

The old Anacostia Neighborhood Library was erected in the 1950's and served the community until 2003. Can you imagine the changes in technology that have taken place since then? The library was built during a time when calculators were the size of our current interim library! 4000 square feet!

If you have question or comments please send them to AnacostiaCommunityFeedback@dc.gov.