Library Weblog 2012-01-21T14:53:06Z The Takoma Park Maryland Library staff web log. tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/mt//1 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2012, library Year of the Water Dragon 2012-01-21T14:53:06Z 2012-01-21T09:53:06-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/mt//1.2647 2012-01-21T14:53:06Z www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0" align="left"> The Chinese New Year celebration begins Monday the 23rd, at the new moon, and lasts until the full moon, February 6th, which is the festival of lanterns. (A day by day account.) The dragon is the symbol for... library Nine-Dragon Screen-1

The Chinese New Year celebration begins Monday the 23rd, at the new moon, and lasts until the full moon, February 6th, which is the festival of lanterns. (A day by day account.)

The dragon is the symbol for the coming year. (Specifically the water dragon, part of the 60 year cycle.) But, according to this site, as the animal years/months/days follow the solar calendar the dragon begins on February 4th (the 5th in some years) rather than on the lunar new year. (See below)

Wear red. It's a Chinese good luck color.

Attend the parade and other festivities. January 29th in Chinatown, on H Street NW between 6th and 8th Streets, 2–5 PM. Dragon dance, music and a giant firecracker explosion.

Look at the nine dragons painting from the Sung dynasty.
And the Yangliuqing paintings.

And learn an Asian language (or English). We offer a number of options through Mango:

  • Cantonese Basic
  • Cantonese Complete
  • Mandarin Basic
  • Mandarin Complete
  • Mandarin Little Pim (for very small children.)
  • English for Cantonese Speakers
  • English for Mandarin Speakers
Remember - this new moon is not just a Chinese holiday. The Vietnamese Tê't begins at the same new moon and is celebrated for three days. And this is the Korean New Year, Seollal, also celebrated for the first three days of the new moon. You can learn, with Mango
  • Korean Basic
  • Korean Complete
  • Vietnamese Basic
  • Vietnamese Complete
  • English for Korean speakers
  • English for Vietnamese speakers
You will need a current card from this library.

]]> The first day of the new year festival is usually that of the new moon occurring closest to Feb 4/5. (Actually the 2nd new moon after the winter solstice.) Everything is a bit early this year because there was a new moon on December 24th, just a couple of days after the solstice.
lots of info
more
And see page 35 of our reference book R 529.3 KELLY Religious Holidays and Calendars. This is one of many, many reference books that are a joy to browse.

Though this is the start-of-spring moon in Asia, it isn't very spring-like here. American names for this moon include Wolf Moon, Snow Moon and Storm Moon.

As with the Jewish calendar, extra lunar months are inserted from time to time in order to keep the Chinese lunar calendar more or less in sync with the solar one.

How do you get the cycle of 60? 12 animals x 5 colors/elements. Actually you also have a base cycle of 10 stems, each color/element combined with a yin or yang rotating with the 12 branch cycle of animals. After 60, not 120 iterations, you return to yang/wood(green)/rat. So every animal always combines with the same gender, the dragon always with yang, the snake (next year) always with yin.

These stem/branch names have also been used to name not just years, but also months, days, hour of the day.

The solar midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox was noted by Europeans as well. Imbolc (Celtic), Candlemas (Christian) and eventually Groundhog Dog were all centered on February 2nd, though the Asian recognition of the point as the day that corresponds to our February 4th is a bit more accurate.

]]> MLK Day 2012 2012-01-09T15:32:21Z 2012-01-09T10:32:21-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/mt//1.2641 2012-01-09T15:32:21Z The library will be closed Monday, January 16th.... library The library will be closed Monday, January 16th. Martin Luther King Jr NYWTS 2


]]> Phones Out 2011-12-22T18:26:02Z 2011-12-22T13:26:02-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2634 2011-12-22T18:26:02Z Due to problems with a Verizon trunk line, all city phones with a "7200" extension are out of service at the moment, at least for those trying to call into the city's departments. But you can reach the Library and... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Due to problems with a Verizon trunk line, all city phones with a "7200" extension are out of service at the moment, at least for those trying to call into the city's departments. But you can reach the Library and other city departments by calling 301-891-7100 and asking to be transferred. The phone outage has been reported and is being worked on. We'll keep you updated, and thanks for your patience.

]]> December Holidays 2011 2011-12-13T15:39:44Z 2011-12-13T10:39:44-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2631 2011-12-13T15:39:44Z On December 23rd we will be open 10-2. Note both the early opening and the early closing.(Our normal Friday hours are noon-6). We will be closed December 24th, 25th and 26th. December 27th-31st, regular hours. Closed January 2. The computer... library holly berriesOn December 23rd we will be open 10-2. Note both the early opening and the early closing.(Our normal Friday hours are noon-6).

We will be closed December 24th, 25th and 26th.

December 27th-31st, regular hours.

Closed January 2.

The computer center will be closed December 23rd through the 26th, December 31st and January 2nd.

]]> Bikeshare 2011-12-02T19:15:29Z 2011-12-02T14:15:29-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2629 2011-12-02T19:15:29Z Interested in bringing bikeshare to Takoma Park? Please fill out the survey. What is Capital Bikeshare? "Check out a bike for your trip to work, Metro, run errands, go shopping, or visit friends and family. Join Capital Bikeshare for 24... library Interested in bringing bikeshare to Takoma Park? Please fill out the survey.

What is Capital Bikeshare? "Check out a bike for your trip to work, Metro, run errands, go shopping, or visit friends and family. Join Capital Bikeshare for 24 hours, 3 days, 30 days, or a year, and have access to a fleet of bikes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year." Prices.

]]> Phone Problems 2011-11-28T18:20:07Z 2011-11-28T13:20:07-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2625 2011-11-28T18:20:07Z The Library is experiencing phone problems. Please bear with us as our techs work with Verizon to resolve the problem.... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com The Library is experiencing phone problems. Please bear with us as our techs work with Verizon to resolve the problem.

]]> Holiday Hours 2011-11-23T22:44:00Z 2011-11-23T17:44:00-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2624 2011-11-23T22:44:00Z The Library will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. But we will be open on Saturday for our regular hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Community Center will be closed all weekend.... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com The Library will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. But we will be open on Saturday for our regular hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Community Center will be closed all weekend.

]]> Drums 2011-11-11T19:40:31Z 2011-11-11T14:40:31-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2614 2011-11-11T19:40:31Z Next Monday evening, 7 PM, Eaglebear (Tomas Shash) comes to the library, with drums. Saturday evening, November 19th, 7:30 PM, a drumming trio will perform on Japanese taiko in the Community Center auditorium. We usually drum with Bill Jenkins during... library eaglebearNext Monday evening, 7 PM, Eaglebear (Tomas Shash) comes to the library, with drums.

Saturday evening, November 19th, 7:30 PM, a drumming trio will perform on Japanese taiko in the Community Center auditorium.

We usually drum with Bill Jenkins during our winter solstice programs. This year that will be Thursday, December 22nd.

Look for our books such as Timekeepers: the Great Jazz Drummers. and CDs such as Babatunde's Circle of Drums
And here are some videos, to get you tapping:

Street musician in DC
Drum circle in Takoma Park
Batucada drumming
Street drum line
Babatunde
Timpani
Animal vs Buddy Rich
Steel drums
Bass drums
A bit of Cuba in Bali

And ... taiko in Athens.

]]> Time and Date 2011-11-06T14:38:11Z 2011-11-06T09:38:11-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2610 2011-11-06T14:38:11Z The time changed (for us, not everyone everywhere) this Sunday morning. We are now back on Eastern Standard Time. Since 2007 the rule has been: First Sunday in November. A cartographer's notes on time zone peculiarities. Monday, the 7th at... library The time changed (for us, not everyone everywhere) this Sunday morning. We are now back on Eastern Standard Time. Since 2007 the rule has been: First Sunday in November.
A cartographer's notes on time zone peculiarities.

Monday, the 7th at 7: Bedtime stories for very young children. This is usually scheduled for the first Monday evening in a month.

Tuesday, the 8th: For the first time in ?, forever?, we will have no morning Circle Time sessions so as to free the library parking lot for voters in the City elections.

Friday, 11/11/11: We will be closed for Veterans Day. The library reopens Saturday with D&D games. The Community Center will remain closed all weekend.

]]> Quality Health 2011-10-28T15:34:28Z 2011-10-28T11:34:28-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2607 2011-10-28T15:34:28Z We subscribe to a superb information database, the Health Reference Center. We are paying for your access, but you must use your library card to sign in. The current edition includes over 2,250 new or updated entries. Shy? Diabetic?... library Health Reference Center
We subscribe to a superb information database, the Health Reference Center. We are paying for your access, but you must use your library card to sign in.

The current edition includes over 2,250 new or updated entries.

Shy? Diabetic? Drink rather a lot? Or just doing some research and need authoritative information and statistics? Look especially for all the newly added material on

  • alcoholism and alcohol abuse (170 subject entries)
  • diabetes (about 300 subject entries)
  • and phobias, fears, and anxieties (approximately 1,800 subject entries)
Get your card out....

]]> Library Games 2011 2011-10-26T16:40:23Z 2011-10-26T12:40:23-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2605 2011-10-26T16:40:23Z Multiple, simultaneous Dungeons and Dragons games for adults and kids. November 12th. Join us again if you played last year. Come learn how if you have never played before. Registration required.... library Multiple, simultaneous Dungeons and Dragons games for adults and kids. November 12th.

Join us again if you played last year. Come learn how if you have never played before.

Registration required.

national gaming day

]]> Cutting for Stone Postponed 2011-10-25T14:33:19Z 2011-10-25T10:33:19-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2603 2011-10-25T14:33:19Z The discussion of Cutting for Stone has been postponed until 7:30 on Wednesday, November 30th. (The get-together was originally scheduled for October 27th.) Everyone interested in the book is welcome.... library The discussion of Cutting for Stone has been postponed until 7:30 on Wednesday, November 30th.

(The get-together was originally scheduled for October 27th.)

Everyone interested in the book is welcome.


]]> NOT closed 2011-10-10T12:04:50Z 2011-10-10T08:04:50-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2596 2011-10-10T12:04:50Z We will open today, at noon as is usual on Mondays. We have no holidays in October. November, on the other hand .... We will be closed November 11th, Veterans Day. Then again for Thanksgiving, November 24th and 25th.... library We will open today, at noon as is usual on Mondays. We have no holidays in October.

November, on the other hand ....
We will be closed November 11th, Veterans Day. Then again for Thanksgiving, November 24th and 25th.

]]> Phones Are Working 2011-10-01T13:20:36Z 2011-10-01T09:20:36-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2594 2011-10-01T13:20:36Z Our phone service has been restored, so if you need to call the Library today during open hours -- 10-5 -- you can do so. Just dial 301-891-7259.... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Our phone service has been restored, so if you need to call the Library today during open hours -- 10-5 -- you can do so. Just dial 301-891-7259.

]]> Phone Troubles 2011-09-30T20:46:28Z 2011-09-30T16:46:28-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/mt//1.2593 2011-09-30T20:46:28Z Some City of Takoma Park phone lines -- including the Library's -- are not working properly. If you call an office during Monday-Friday business hours and receive a continuous busy signal, please call 301-891-7100 and request to be transferred. Other... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Some City of Takoma Park phone lines -- including the Library's -- are not working properly. If you call an office during Monday-Friday business hours and receive a continuous busy signal, please call 301-891-7100 and request to be transferred. Other city offices affected by the phone problem are: City Manager, City Clerk, Housing and Community Development, Finance, Information Systems, Recreation, and Communications. All Police Department and Public Works numbers are working normally. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope that our provider will resolve the problem soon!

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