Spotlight : 69th Corn Festival

We’d like to spotlight an annual festival near the most northern branch in our system, the La Habra Branch Library, or the “Winterfell” of OCPL as some our dearest Game of Thrones-loving patrons like to refer to us. The name La Habra refers to the “pass through the hills,” the natural pass to the north that was used by Spanish explorers over a century before the city of La Habra was founded in 1896. La Habra's first library opened on November 8, 1921 in a former tamale restaurant.The second building was constructed through a WPA project and is now the Old Settlers’ Historical Museum, open on Saturdays. The current library came around in March 1966, as seen in the groundbreaking ceremony photo where the installation of a time capsule took place.

The location of the time capsule is marked by a plaque at the front entrance of the library. When the time capsule is finally pulled out I wonder what people will think of the artifacts they find in it! 

There are many things that represent La Habra, but it’s possibly best known for its World-Famous Corn Festival. The festival was started by the La Habra Host Lions Club which held its first Corn Festival in 1948. The festival started out as a simple one day event where the local community would get together and square dance, play some games, and eat corn. Fast forward to this past weekend, the city celebrated its 69th annual Corn Festival which spanned across 3 days, from August 4th-August 6th. This festival included a parade, several rides, attractions, corn eating contests, games, live music, a market place, and a 1965 red Ford Mustang opportunity drawing.

We even had our friends from the OC Health Care Agency promoting the safe recycling of used motor oil and giving out equipment for proper disposal. The best thing about the festival is that it mostly takes place in the El Centro-Lions Park adjacent to the La Habra Branch Library. This means that the festival wraps around the library, with the parade marching down La Habra Blvd., there are rides and attractions in the parking lot, and a huge slide outside of the employee entrance; how fun!

I hope next year you can visit our branch and enjoy some buttered corn with the rest of us. Tell us about your favorite local festival!

Click HERE for further information about the history of the La Habra Library.

Blog by Marcos Cerda

Picture-book Corner – Afraid of the Dark

The library is a place where staff help patrons navigate resources and collections to find answers to their most important questions. But, how do you help a child that is afraid of the dark?

One Tuesday afternoon, after story time, a mother came up to the front desk and asked, “Do you have any book recommendations for children that are afraid of the dark?” Hiding behind the patron was a little girl, about five years old, clutching at her skirts. With a big smile, I looked down at the little girl and said “Of course, follow me to the picture book section. I have books that will turn even the scariest of monsters into your best friend.”

Here is what I recommended:

Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlet

Orion’s biggest fear is the dark. But when Night decides to take Orion on an adventure, the two become inseparable and ultimately become the best of friends.

Little Night/Nochesita by Yuyi Morales

This bilingual bedtime story is about a girl, Little Night, who plays hide and seek with her mother, Sky. The question “Where could Little Night Be?” is repeated throughout the story, helping children familiarize themselves with the concept of darkness when night time comes.

Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson

This is an interactive picture book that will surely brighten up your child’s night. Children will feel like they have control over the night as they “touch, pat, blink, and whisper to change the night sky.”

Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley

This picture book lets children be in charge when it comes to monsters. Flip the page and see a monster unfold before your eyes. But don’t be too scared. Children can make the monster disappear at the flip of a page, ending the story with “Go AWAY, Big Green Monster!”

After walking mother and daughter over to the picture book section, they were excited to see the variety of books the library held to help combat a child’s fear of the dark. They left home with a handful of books and a readiness to tackle even the scariest of monsters.

If Your Monster Won’t Go to Sleep by Denise Vega

Along with the selection of books, a craft can be paired that is within theme of all things bedtime. A fun title that pulls together nighttime and monsters in a fun way is If Your Monster Won’t Go to Sleep by Denise Vega. In the story, a young girl creates a handbook on how to get your monster to go to bed. An amusing tongue-in-cheek story on a fabulous bedtime routine that should help any young ones get prepared for bed without being scared of the dark.

A craft has been created based on the story above, so feel free to print out the instructions and template so that everyone can create their own monster that won’t go to sleep!

Click HERE for craft instructions and template.

Blog by Savannah Feiner & Liana Lujan

Rita Visits Comic Con 2017

Comic Con—a librarian’s favorite summer event. Many staff members were lucky enough to spend a July weekend amongst their favorite authors, characters, and actors. But, for those of us who were not able to attend, do not fret. Library staff is here to save the day!

Staff members who attended Comic Con are sharing their favorite pop culture, comic book, movie, and film encounters with the rest of Orange County. 

Savannah Feiner, a library assistant from the Costa Mesa-Mesa Verde Library, attended the Bob’s Burgers panel at Comic Con. The library system owns a variety of Bob’s Burgers graphic novels. Savannah recommends checking out The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers. Not only does the book have the fantastic pun-named burgers, but the individual recipes are all unique. Her favorite recipe is the “Bruschetta-bout It Burger.”

Rita Reads taking in the view of the bay after after the Bob’s Burgers panel.

Viet Vu, Adult Services Librarian at Rancho Santa Margarita, had his own personal sidekick in Rita Reads during his time at Comic Con. Arming her with her own badge and lanyard, all she needed was her cosplay outfit. Costumed as her very own superhero, OC Public Libraries was greatly represented in San Diego!

Rita Reads answering the difficult reference question, “Where are the death star plans?”

Rita checking out the various collected editions of Jeff Smith’s graphic novel, Bone. 

Want to catch up on movies and comic books?

Here is a list of recommendations from staff.

Be inspired by a strong, lasso wielding superheroine! Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Year One (Rebirth) by Greg Rucka.

Check out The Unbelievable Gwenpool Vol. 1 by Chris Hastings to continue your readings of strong female characters in the comic book universe.

If you’re looking to inspire the little ones, try the juvenile graphic novels DC Superhero Girls by Shea Fontana. This series features DC’s famous female superheroes as relatable teens, navigating their way through high school.

Find the DC super hero back stories at the library. Featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, this series is written in chapter book form for children.

Arrow TV Series

Follow vigilante hero Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, as he navigates his newfound powers in Starling City.

Check out your favorite “Merc with a Mouth”, Deadpool at the library! We have the movie and the graphic novels in many OC Public Libraries’ branches.

Take advantage of our online resources and check out our Hoopla application.
Hoopla is a platform that allows for patrons to check out audiobooks, ebooks, comics, raphic novels, music, and movies for free. Check out your favorite comics and graphic novels, from Saga to Doctor Who on Hoopla. Download the app or go to hoopladigital.com and log in with your library card! 

Blog by Liana Lujan and Savannah Feiner. 

Photos by Savannah Feiner and Viet Vu.