• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • What’s New
  • A.K. Smiley Public Library
  • My Account / Search our Catalog

A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Archives for January 2024

Alexander Street database, streaming service of the arts, now available

January 28, 2024 By Jill Martinson

If you appreciate the arts, Smiley Library has acquired a new database to enjoy on your next visit. Alexander Street database offers streaming videos on music, dance, and theater. Watch Tennessee William’s A Streetcar named Desire; listen to the Bossa Nova sounds of saxophonist Stan Getz; and admire Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake performed by The Royal Ballet. This database is only available while you’re at the Library, so when you’re ready to take a break from studying, grab your laptop or get on to one of Smiley Library’s computers and head to www.akspl.org/elibrary. Scroll to the Alexander Street icon and click to get started. Don’t forget to bring your headphones when listening to audio videos, or head over to our circulation desk for a free set of earbuds.

I thought it would be fun to pair some of our new performing arts books with videos from the Alexander Street database. Here are a few suggestions to consider.

Check out the book, “Miles on Miles: Interviews and Encounters with Miles Davis,” edited by Paul Maher, Jr. and Michael K. Dorr, for your reading pleasure. This collection of 30 interviews illuminates the philosophy of life and music from an absolute jazz legend. Before heading home with your book, jump onto a computer to access our new database and watch the quick video Miles Davis: The Cool Jazz Sound. This will be a great introduction into the mystique of Miles.

If you can sing songs from Into the Woods or West Side Story, you may be familiar with this next composer and lyricist. “Sondheim: His Life, His Shows, His Legacy” by Stephen M. Silverman showcases one of the most important figures in American musical theater, Stephen Sondheim. The book provides a detailed background of this brilliant man, along with beautiful photos. Pair this with the short video, Stephen Sondheim: Extended Interview, available through our database, to hear him talk of his life in the theater.

For dance enthusiasts, try “Errand Into the Maze: the Life and Works of Martha Graham” by Deborah Jowitt. This erudite and scholarly book examines the life of this very influential dancer and choreographer of modern dance. Pair this with the video, The History of Modern Dance to get a real feel for the evolution of modern and postmodern dance.

Have a happy and artsy new year!

 

 

 

Filed Under: What's New

Redlands Adult Literacy Program invites community to meet author Erica Alfaro 

January 20, 2024 By Diane Shimota

Erica Alfaro, author of Harvesting Dreams

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program has chosen the book, Harvesting Dreams, Defying the Odds to Achieve the American Dream, by Erica Alfaro as this year’s Community Read. The book was selected because of its focus on the life-changing impact of education, how determination can overcome adversity, and its invitation to everyone to dream BIG. Erica will share her challenging journey from immigrant, teenage mother, domestic abuse survivor, to earning her master’s degree and becoming a spokesperson for sharing your story and achieving your dreams. 

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program invites the community to meet author Erica Alfaro on Saturday, March 9th, 2024 at the Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka Street, Redlands. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 2:00 p.m. This is a free event open to everyone.

Harvesting Dreams has been read by over 100 members of the adult literacy community. They were moved by the challenges that Ms. Alfaro overcame in her quest for an education. Many adult learners who read her book said they could relate to her story and were inspired by her strength and courage.  

Cinderella Tran, an adult learner in the Adult Literacy Program, expressed her appreciation to the author by saying, “The book inspired me to think about how we have to encourage our children to get an education to better themselves.” Salma Marquez, a fellow-adult learner, said, “I think this book is inspirational for a lot of people especially Mexican people who came to this country. It is hard. Erica Alfaro is very strong.”  

Reading about the difficulties faced by Ms. Alfaro in her marriage, Yesenia Jimenez reflected, “I admire Erica for being a brave girl, even though she was very young, she knew how to take her place as a woman and distance herself from her boyfriend.” In her book, Erica shared that her boyfriend often discouraged her from continuing her education. Jeanne Fortier, an adult literacy tutor, reflected, “For Erica, giving up on her dreams for herself and her son was not an option.”  

Tutors and learners are well aware of the struggle that many people face to advance their education and they understand the courage and dedication necessary to advance themselves and their families in this ever more complicated world.  

This event is made possible through generous donations to the adult literacy program through the Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library and support from the A.K. Smiley Public Library Endowment Fund. Copies of Harvesting Dreams are available for checkout at the Library. 

The ability to read and write at a level necessary to achieve your dreams is an essential need for everyone in the community.  Because the Redlands community has so many wonderful volunteers who donate their time to help others, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program is able to provide one-on-one tutoring in reading and writing for adults who need to improve their literacy skills to get better jobs, further their own education, help their children with schoolwork, or read a book.   

If you know someone who wants to improve their literacy, or if you would like to volunteer as an adult literacy tutor, please call 909.798.7565, ext. 4110, email literacy@akspl.org, or visit A.K. Smiley Public Library and ask for the adult literacy coordinator. All information is treated confidentially. You may also wish to visit www.akspl.org/literacy, to read more about the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. The next tutor orientation class will take place on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Please contact the literacy coordinator if you are interested in attending this class.

Filed Under: What's New

Not just for kids–new picture books for all to enjoy!

January 14, 2024 By Pamela Martinez

Happy New Year from the Youth Services Crew! We have a great selection of books here in the Young Readers’ Room for readers of all ages–kids’ books aren’t just for kids! Are you ready to find your new favorite book this year? Please come peruse our “New Books” shelf at your earliest convenience.

Picture books are such a joy to read over and over, and to linger over the pictures. Here is a list of five new picture books I thought you would enjoy to start out the New Year:

More than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean written by Roz MacLean flows from page to page filled with children who have a multitude of learning and communication abilities. The illustrations are colorful and mostly shared on a double spread. The end pages are laid out with communication access ideas for your children and how to share the love of communication for each individual child.

The Story of a Book is written by Joy McCullough and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. This story transports the reader through the life of a book. Starting out on the shelf in the library, a brand-new addition to the shelf, this book is chosen by a potential reader. The book then travels to its next destination. Beautifully written and illustrated, this story will have you remembering some of the wonderful books you’ve read throughout your lifetime!

A Very CRANKY Book, is written and illustrated by a national bestseller duo: Angela & Tony DiTerlizzi. Everyone experiences the ol’ cranky mood every now and then, but what about a book? Can a book be ‘cranky?’ Check out this title and find out! What happens to a book when its shelf mates are checked out all the time, but this book, well, just stays put, no check-outs or browsing joy to be found? Let the crankiness go and read to your hearts delight with this laugh-out-loud story!

The BOO-BOOS of Bluebell Elementary, written by Chelsea Lin Wallace and illustrated by Alison Farrell, will have readers turning the pages over and over as they connect with the kids in the story. The book opens up to a double-page spread of multiple colored band-aids. You may think, ‘Oh-oh!, what could possibly happen at an elementary school nurse’s office?’ Well, Mrs. Peatree is a school nurse at a local elementary school, and this story will enlighten you, through humor, of just how busy school nurses can be…thank you to all of our school nurses out there who keep our kids healthy and well!

My final picture book offering for you today is written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Robert Starling: I Am Happy! When you first turn the cover there is a red, floating, happy balloon that greets you and leads to the title page of an adorable, skipping puppy holding onto said balloon. What do puppies do when they are happy? Well, they wag their cute little tails, and maybe they swing and play with bubbles…who doesn’t like bubbles?! A joyful book that may just make you a little bit more happy once you’ve read it!

These five titles are just a sampling of our new books. Please come in and tell us which book is your favorite so far this year!

Filed Under: What's New

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. – learn more about his life and work

January 13, 2024 By Teresa Letizia

In remembrance and celebration of the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968, why not read more about him? A.K. Smiley Public Library offers a variety of books, audio books, and e-books for children, teens, and adults on Dr. King.

An American Baptist minister, activist, and political philosopher, Dr. King was one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 at the age of 39. He advanced civil rights for people of color in the United States through the use of nonviolent resistance and nonviolent civil disobedience against Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination in the United States.

In 1983, Congress made the birthday of Dr. King a federal holiday, and in 1994, declared it a National Day of Service. For more information, visit MLKday.gov.

Look for these items–and more–on display in the Library (which are available to check-out), or follow the link to our catalog to learn more about it and to place it on hold.

The heavens might crack: the death and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. / Sokol, Jason
.
The sword and the shield: the revolutionary lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. / Joseph, Peniel E.
.
Gospel of freedom: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s letter from Birmingham Jail and the struggle that changed a nation / Rieder, Jonathan
.
Dear Martin / Stone, Nic, 2017, Young Adult fiction
.
Biography / Autobiography
King: a life / Eig, Jonathan, 2023
.
The autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. / King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1998
.
The seminarian: Martin Luther King, Jr. comes of age / Parr, Patrick, 2018
.
Death of a king: the real story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final year / Smiley, Tavis, 2014
.
The dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the speech that inspired a nation / Hansen, Drew, 2003
.
Martin Luther King Jr. / Vegara, Maria Isabel Sanchez, 2017, Juvenile Biography
.
Audio Books
Martin Luther King, Jr., the essential box set : the landmark speeches and sermons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. / King, Martin Luther, Jr.
.
I have a dream / King, Martin Luther, Jr.

Filed Under: News + Events

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • New poetry books for National Poetry Month! 
  • New books–for the birds! Come in and enjoy our live stream of the Big Bear eagles!
  • Take comfort, teens, history shows us that we persevere

Categories

  • News + Events
  • What's New

Archives

  • April 2025 (3)
  • March 2025 (4)
  • February 2025 (4)
  • January 2025 (3)
  • December 2024 (5)
  • November 2024 (3)
  • October 2024 (3)
  • September 2024 (4)
  • August 2024 (4)
  • July 2024 (5)
  • June 2024 (6)
  • May 2024 (4)
  • April 2024 (6)
  • March 2024 (4)
  • February 2024 (5)
  • January 2024 (4)
  • December 2023 (5)
  • November 2023 (5)
  • October 2023 (6)
  • September 2023 (4)
  • August 2023 (4)
  • July 2023 (4)
  • June 2023 (6)
  • May 2023 (5)
  • April 2023 (5)
  • March 2023 (4)
  • February 2023 (5)
  • January 2023 (5)
  • December 2022 (4)
  • November 2022 (5)
  • October 2022 (5)
  • September 2022 (5)
  • August 2022 (5)
  • July 2022 (5)
  • June 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (6)
  • April 2022 (5)
  • March 2022 (4)
  • February 2022 (6)
  • January 2022 (6)
  • December 2021 (4)
  • November 2021 (5)
  • October 2021 (5)
  • September 2021 (5)
  • August 2021 (5)
  • July 2021 (4)
  • June 2021 (6)
  • May 2021 (5)
  • April 2021 (4)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • February 2021 (5)
  • January 2021 (5)
  • December 2020 (4)
  • November 2020 (3)
  • October 2020 (5)
  • September 2020 (5)
  • August 2020 (7)
  • July 2020 (4)
  • June 2020 (5)
  • May 2020 (5)
  • April 2020 (4)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • February 2020 (4)
  • December 2019 (1)

Copyright © 2025 · A.K. Smiley Public Library, All Rights Reserved · Log in