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Book cover of "The Vanishing Half".

A C Bilbrew Book Club

In Person Program

2024-04-27 14:30:00 2024-04-27 16:00:00 America/Los_Angeles A C Bilbrew Book Club Join us for a thought-provoking discussion of The Vanishing Half  by Brit Bennett! Copies of the book will be available for checkout at the circulation desk, while supplies last. For Adults 18 and up. A C Bilbrew Library - Activity Room

Saturday, April 27
2:30pm - 4:00pm

A C Bilbrew Library

Activity Room

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion of The Vanishing Half  by Brit Bennett! Copies of the book will be available for checkout at the circulation desk, while supplies last. For Adults 18 and up.

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect?

Description by the publisher.

AGE GROUP: | Older Adults | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Books, Poetry, & Writing |

TAGS: | Book Club |

A C Bilbrew Library

Phone: 310.538.3350

Hours
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Mon, Oct 19 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Oct 20 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Oct 21 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Oct 22 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Oct 23 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Oct 24 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Oct 25 Closed

About the branch

Located in a shopping center from 1964 to 1974, the North Enterprise Branch became the A C Bilbrew Library with the opening of the present building on November 2, 1974. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn was instrumental in the library obtaining funding through a Model Neighborhood Development Program to build a 21,000 square foot library with a capacity to house 100,000 books. The library was designed by Vincent Proby, an African-American architect and is named for Madame A C Bilbrew, a community leader and former deputy for Supervisor Hahn who was also a musician and poet.

In 1933, Mrs. Bilbrew was the first black soloist to appear on radio, and in 1928, she produced the first Negro chorus that was featured in Hollywood's first Negro talkie, titled "Hearts in Dixie." She was the first black person to have a radio show. Mrs. Bilbrew was also a producer of pageants and dramas, an outstanding dramatic reader, and choral director.

A C Bilbrew Library houses the Black Resource Center which supports research and study on social, historical, musical, and cultural aspects unique to the "Black Experience" such as Juneteenth and Kwanzaa. From 1980-2008, A C Bilbrew Library has hosted the County Library's African American History Month Celebration. The "Living Black History Tribute" first honoree was Eubie Blake. This became the "African-American Living Legend" Series. Past Honorees have included Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, Coretta Scott King, and Ray Charles. An interactive Living Legends digital display is featured in the main lobby. The library is located in an unincorporated area west of the City of Compton.

Upcoming events

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Wed, Oct 28, 11:15am - 11:45am
Activity Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Wed, Oct 28, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
In response to an increase in fentanyl and other opioid related overdoses, we've partnered with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health and California Department of Health Care Services to offer free doses of Naloxone (Narcan).

Thu, Oct 29, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Are you a teen interested in making a difference in your library and community? Join the Teen Advisory Board! Afterwards, join us to decorate a spooky bag.

Wed, Nov 04, 11:15am - 11:45am
Activity Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Wed, Nov 04, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
In response to an increase in fentanyl and other opioid related overdoses, we've partnered with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health and California Department of Health Care Services to offer free doses of Naloxone (Narcan).

Thu, Nov 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Activity Room
Come play with us! Help your child practice fine motor, gross motor, and social/emotional skills through the art of play. A large variety of engaging toys/materials will be available. For infants and toddlers ages 0-5 with a parent or caregiver.

Thu, Nov 12, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Combine creativity and sustainability by learning to sew a tote bag you can use year after year. For teens.

Tue, Nov 17, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Join LACMA to sculpt a clay calavera (skull), as seen in Manuel Álvarez Bravo’s Día de Todos Muertos (1933), in honor of the Día de los Muertos ancestral tradition. For ages 6 and up

Wed, Nov 18, 11:15am - 11:45am
Activity Room
Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun. For ages 2 - 5 with their parent or caregiver.

Wed, Nov 18, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
In response to an increase in fentanyl and other opioid related overdoses, we've partnered with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health and California Department of Health Care Services to offer free doses of Naloxone (Narcan).

Wed, Nov 18, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Activity Room
Native American communities have highly documented genealogical lineages due to their cultural traditions of honoring ancestors as well as their complex histories with colonial powers, the US federal government, and state governments. For adults.

Thu, Nov 19, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Are you a teen interested in making a difference in your library and community? Join the Teen Advisory Board! For teens ages 13 - 17

Thu, Nov 19, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Meeting Room
Join us as we bring to light a forgotten part of America's past the cultural & racial fusion of Native & African Americans. This film features many interviews of living, breathing Black Indians who share their personal thoughts, feelings, & outlook.

Sat, Nov 21, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Activity Room
Join us for our family movie: Harold and the Purple Crayon. Inspired by the popular book "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson. Rating: PG Runtime: 92 minutes For ages 6+

Tue, Nov 24, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Meeting Room
The impact of grief and loss will be discussed along with examples of healthy grieving and resiliency in the midst of loss. English workshop is from 10:30 - 11:30 am  Spanish workshop is from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Tue, Nov 24, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Activity Room
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with this month's Book Adventure, a read aloud book club. Join our read aloud of "We Are Water Protectors" by Carole Lindstrom. For kids ages 5 - 12 with parent or caregiver.