Saturday, April 19, 2008

PG Read-a-thon Going Strong!

It's after 5 pm on Saturday. The doors are locked, most of the staff has gone home, but the Library is still full of young readers. They are participating in PG Reads for the Library, a read-a-thon benefiting the Children's Department of the Pacific Grove Public Library.

So far 80 children have signed in, nestled in chairs, opened their books, and read 60 minutes or more for the Library! And every minute matters, because each minute read earns a dollar for children's books and programs.

The night is still young. The read-a-thon continues until midnight tonight. But already, the sight of so many youngsters reading on behalf of their local library has elicited smiles, praise and pride. It's wonderful!

Thank you to all the children who are reading for the Library! You are truly making a difference!

Monday, April 14, 2008

The Future of Pacific Grove Public Library

Pacific Grove city leaders are in talks with Monterey Public Library about running Pacific Grove Public Library next fiscal year (2008/09.) As many of you know, the library budget was cut 50% to $480,000 for the new year. The city also has decided not to fund any library materials with general fund money.

Who will be running Pacific Grove Public Library come July 1? It is not certain at this point. The city could decide to continue running the library, or they could outsource it. In the meantime, library staff are waiting, and some are finding other jobs.

This will be my last blog since my last day is April 18. I have taken a job with Monterey County Free Libraries. It has been a pleasure working for such a fine library, albeit for only nine months. No matter the governance, the Library will no doubt persevere these troubled times and provide another hundred years of culture and information to city residents.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

What books would our library users save?

During the Big Read event, Pacific Grove Public Library asked readers what book they would save above all others. It was a difficult decision but here are a few of the books our readers took time to vote for:
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Waldon Two by B.F. Skinner
Tao te Ching by Lao Tze
Sidhartha by Herman Hesse
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
The Bible
Oxford English Dictionary
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Various works of William Shakespeare
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Faust by Johann Goethe
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Friday, April 4, 2008

Enter our "Why I Love My Library" contest

During the month of April, all library users are invited to enter the "Why I Love My Library" contest. During the month of April, you can pick up the contest rules and entry blank at the Library or print it out from our website http://www.pacificgrove.lib.ca.us/contest.pdf . Write or draw a picture on the entry form and submit your entry to the Library by April 30, 2008. Entries will be judged by a panel of judges and prizes will be awarded at the Library Centennial Birthday Party on Saturday, May 10, 2008, at the Library.

Literacy, Its Impact on Health & Poverty 4/22/08

Pacific Grove Public Library is proud to collaborate with the Monterey Bay Chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA in presenting a program Literacy, Its Impact on Health and Poverty: Around the World and Right Here in Monterey County. The program will be held twice and features speakers Helene-Marie Gosselin, Director of the North American Office of UNESCO and Dr. Diane Cordero de Noriega, Former Provost and Former Interim President of CSUMB:
Monterey Tuesday, April 22 at 7 PM, Irvine Auditorium of MIIS
Salinas Wednesday, April 23 at 7 PM National Steinbeck Center

For further information visit www.unamontereybay.org or call 831 643-0707