Thank You and Adieu

Last night the Library was alive with laughter, curiosity, intelligence, passion, and the love of a good story, as we gathered to listen to Cara Black share how and why she writes her mysteries set in Paris. It was wonderful.

During the ten years I have worked at Pacific Grove Public Library, there are not many moments when I have just sat and imbibed the atmosphere of the Library. When you're part of the staff, there is always something or somebody, (if not many things and many people), waiting for your attention.

For the most part, I find the constant movement, interaction, variety of questions and responsibilites energizing.  But there is something peaceful and settling about entering the Library and quietly imbibing its atmosphere.  It's like a good poem or a soft melody or the company of a dear friend - it holds you and opens your awareness to new possibilities.

I have worked in more than a dozen libraries during my career: public, academic, legal, even a bookmobile driving around San Francisco. But this library, the Pacific Grove Public Library, is my favorite.

It's my favorite for many reasons. I love the Carnegie arches and the high ceilings. I love the Children's Room and the Landaker mural. I love the collection, which has been carefully honed to contain old and new titles - to be discovered and rediscovered by one generation, then another. But mainly I love the spirit - of the library, the staff, the community it serves.

I love the staff who welcome you as you walk in the door. I love the exuberance that rings out from the Children's Room. I love the inquisitiveness of people who stop by the reference desk.  I love the fact that visitors feel at home here. Because the reality is - this is part of every Pagrovian's home.

The Library is  the community's living room - a place where you can relax, rejuvenate, engage. There's something for everybody: books, newspapers, magazines, music, movies, eBooks to read, audio books to listen to, story times for children, events for adults. 

When I've entered the Library through the staff entrance, I've been inspired by the potential - for the Library to build on its natural beauty and spirit and become even more for its community. More programs for teens and adults; more workshops on writing or using technology, on cooking (during the Farmers Market), or even knitting; a speaker's circle highlighting the creativity and expertise of local residents; an oral history program; local history exhibits; game night; bookclubs, etc.

There is so much I had hoped to do: to help rebuild the Library after the devasting budget cuts of 2008; to help make it a "village library for the 21st century."

And so it is with some sadness that I bid the Library, its staff and patrons adieu. I have accepted an offer to join the staff at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and will begin working there next week. (I feel like I am going to graduate school: so many new resources and databases to learn, while I meet and assist students from all over the world!)

I have loved being here. I have enjoyed meeting you, chatting with you, working with you.  Thank you for trusting me with your questions, sharing your ideas and inspiration, lending a helping hand, being wonderful patrons.

My wish for you is that your Library receives stable and secure funding - soon. And flourishes for another century or two.

Best Regards,
Pamela

Thank You, Ashlee!

It has been the Library's good fortune to have had Ashlee Wright as an employee for the past 4 years.

Ashlee Wright is one of the few individuals who has worked in three different job classifications during her tenure at the Library. In 2007, she began working as a shelver, and quickly gained recognition based on her creative ideas, diligent work habits, and infectious enthusiasm.

In 2008, as soon as the budget allowed, Ashlee was promoted to Library Assistant. In that capacity she used her wonderful organizational abilities to bring order to files left unattended due to drastic staff cuts. During this time, she also earned her Masters degree in Library Science via the University of Washington's Distance Learning program.

Following the completion of her graduate studies and the passage of Measure U, we were delighted to bring Ashlee on board as a Librarian. Unfortunately the funding for that position was discontinued after three months. However Ashlee graciously remained with us as a Library Assistant. She continued to distinguish herself with her technical skills and professional initiative. In July 2010, Ashlee was once again promoted to Librarian, and since then has been working at the Reference Desk every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. But that's only a small part of what Ashlee does.....

Ashlee applied for and received a grant to begin a Teen Area in the Library. Next week new shelving arrives and her vision will begin to take shape.... She has also organized and inventoried more than 500 documents and images related to the history of Pacific Grove. We are thrilled to have had this opportunity to deal with the backlog of local history materials. And we could not have made as much progress without Ashlee's dedication and skills.

Many of you have personally benefited from her determination to find the books or information you're seeking. All of you have indirectly benefited from her: artistic flair in creating displays; logistic plans for shifting the collection; and practical suggestions for improving services.

It is with great joy for Ashlee, (and some sadness at our loss), that we share her good news. She has accepted a job offer at the University of San Francisco's Law Library!

Congratulations Ashlee!

Thank you for everything you've done on behalf of the Pacific Grove Public Library and its patrons. You will be missed.

Ashlee will be with us through April 1st, (no joke), for those of you who would like to stop by and wish her well.

Dorraine Zief Law Library - University of San Francisco

1000 Librarians in Monterey!

If you've been by the Monterey Conference Center this week, you may have noticed hundreds of people sporting chartreuse bags emblazoned with Internet Librarian 2010. This annual conference is an amazing opportunity to meet and learn from some of the brightest information professionals, who are using technologies in creative and exciting ways for the benefit of library users like you.

After three days of presentations, my mind is swimming with ideas and inspiration. There are so many programs and services our staff would love to develop and share with you: cool websites; more reading recommendations; digital collections on PG's history; more use of social media; and all sorts of programs to educate, entertain and inspire!

We confess, it's happening more s-l-o-w-l-y than we would like, (due to limited staffing and resources), but it is happening. Plans for some new equipment and services are in the works.... and now we have even more ideas! Stayed tuned...

Lisa Maddalena - Employee of the Year!

Lisa Maddalena

was celebrated as Employee of the Year last night,

at a festive reception hosted by Passionfish Restaurant.

Moe Ammar and the Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, which was attended by the Mayor, members of the City Council, City Staff, and numerous Library patrons - including many who identified themselves as a "Story time Mom" or "Story time Dad. "

For 27 years, Lisa has championed reading, story times, creativity and fun for young people. Two generations of Pacific Grove children have benefited from, and been delighted by, her programs and outreach to schools.

More recently she has added Senior Librarian to her title. Amidst incredibly challenging times, she has accepted responsibility for keeping the Library open.

Through easy and difficult times, Lisa remains helpful, kind, resourceful and always ready to greet you a smile. Please stop by to say hello and congratulate Lisa. She's Employee of the Year all year long!

Getting By With Less

On July 1st the Library entered a new phase of reduced funding. Changes include:

• The Library is now open only four days a week, for a total of 24 hours. (Click here to see the new schedule.)
• Late fines will increase to 25 cents per day for children and young adult materials; 50 cents per day for adult materials.
• The Thursday morning Storytime program has been cancelled. (See The Children's Calendar for the new storytime schedule.)
• Interlibrary Loan Service may not continue, (due to reductions in part-time staff). It is temporarily limited to 1 request per person, per week. And the fee will soon be increased to $3 per request.
• The Reference Desk will no longer be fully staffed. (The recently hired part-time Librarian position has been cut.)
• Lines may be longer at the Circulation Desk. (A full-time Library Assistant retired and was not replaced.)
• No money was allocated for books and other materials, so there will be fewer new purchases, and longer waits for best sellers and high interest materials.

The staff deeply regrets any inconvenience these changes may cause you. We are committed to serving you as well as we can, considering the limitations of a reduced staff and budget.

Lucy is Retiring!

After 23 years of devoted service to PGPL and its patrons,

Lucy is retiring.

We will miss her

smiling presence at the check-out desk,

fastidious management of the periodicals collection,

hospitable nature,

remarkable recall of library history....

Come wish her a fond farewell.

Friday, June 19th

2 - 4 pm

in the Periodicals area

Cake & Punch will be Served.

If you cannot drop by on Friday, Lucy will be working at the Library until June 30, 2009.

Library Budget Cut - Again

Pacific Grove's Recommended Budget for FY 2009-2010 has been released. For the third consecutive year, the Library's budget has been substantially reduced.

As summarized on page 89 of the Recommended Budget:

• FY 2006/07 $1,080,361
• FY 2007/08 $ 994,976 (Staffing: FTE 15.25)
• FY 2008/09 $ 696,810 (Staffing: FTE 7.50)
• FY 2009/10 $ 610,389 (Staffing: FTE 6.50)

Reductions in Library services, caused by these cuts, will include:

• Operating hours reduced from 31 hours to 20-24 hours per week. (A 22-35 percent reduction.)
• Library open only four days per week.
• Elimination of one full-time position.
• Reduction in part-time staffing, including the elimination of the recently approved Librarian I position.
• Increased fines for overdue books.
• Increased fees for Interlibrary Loan.
• Elimination of one or two storytimes per week.
• Reduced coverage at the Children's and Adult Reference Desks.
• Reduced funds for books, magazines, DVDs and CDs. (The Friends of the Library donation will be used for operating costs rather than for new books and materials.)
• Fewer online databases. (The online World Book Encyclopedia, Oxford English Dictionary, and Litfinder database have already been cut for next year.)
• Inability to implement objectives outlined in the Library Services Study, (commonly referred to as "The Strategic Plan").

On Wednesday, May 20th, the City Council will hold a public hearing, as well as introduce and hold a first reading of an ordinance to approve the recommended budget for FY 2009/10. This is an opportunity to share your comments, requests, needs, ideas, and insight with your elected representatives. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. We encourage you to be there to support YOUR Library.

A New Face at the Reference Desk

There's someone new sitting behind the Reference Desk. Her name is Ashlee Wright, and she is ready, willing and able to assist you.

Although Ashlee is a new to the Reference Department, she is not new to PGPL. She began working here two years ago, first as a Shelver, and then as a Library Assistant. She recently received her Masters Degree in Library & Information Science from the University of Washington.

Ashlee is filling the position approved in February, by the City Council. This position will allow us to staff the Reference Desk whenever the library is open, as well as increase staffing in the Children’s Department on Saturdays.

We're delighted to welcome Ashlee to the Reference staff. Please stop by and introduce yourself. And if you have any reference questions, be sure to ask!