Library Hours Reduced, Again...

Due to budget cuts, the Library's hours will be reduced beginning July 1st.

In March, Library hours were reduced from 52 to 40 hours a week, due to staff attrition and a hiring freeze. In July the hours will be further cut back to 31 hours a week.

The new schedule, effective Tuesday, July 1st is:
Sunday closed

Monday closed

Tuesday noon - 7 pm

Wednesday 10 am - 5 pm

Thursday 10 am - 5 pm

Friday noon - 5 pm

Saturday noon - 5 pm

Originally, the City's 2008-2009 Budget indicated that Library hours would be cut to 20-25 hours a week. It is only due to the generous Clausen bequest that the hours have been extended to 31 hours a week.

It is not yet known if the successful passage of Measure U will result in additional Library hours.

Catch the Reading Bug!

It's summer time! And the Library's Summer Reading Club is in full swing! More than 250 children have already picked up their Book Logs, and begun reading for prizes.

In addition to all the wonderful books to read, there are fabulous programs most Wednesday afternoons. Next Wednesday, June 25th, is the popular Zoo to You! Live Animal Program. And on Wednesday, July 2nd, is our favorite magician, Magic Dan!

Catch the Reading Bug! and enjoy a summer of stories, programs, and prizes.

For more information, call 648-5760. Or come in and speak with Children's Librarian, Lisa Maddalena.

Good News #3 - Measure U Passes

Since the election, and the success of Measure U, Library patrons have been asking:

• "Will the Library be open more hours?"
• "Does this mean the Library will get money to buy books?"
• "What will the Library get from Meaure U?"

We don't have the answers to these questions, yet. But we encourage you to keep asking them! The word from City Hall is that public forums will be set up to give you (city residents) the opportunity to share how you want Measure U revenues spent.

While these forums are being organized, we encourage you to let City Council members and City Administrators know: "I hope Measure U means more money for the Library!"

Good News #2 - $100,000 Clausen Bequest

The Library has received a $100,000 bequest from the estate of Jeanie Clausen. Mrs. Clausen was one of the Library's "regulars." She came in so often, Library staff recognized her by face, if not by name. She was an avid reader, who enjoyed books on a variety of topics. And her bequest will enable others to benefit from and enjoy the Library as much as she did.

With her family's enthusiastic approval, the Clausen bequest has been allocated towards staff salaries. Two full-time positions slated to be cut on July 1st, will now be retained, due to the generosity of Jeanie Clausen.

The direct result of this unanticipated gift is: Library hours will not be cut as severely as originally planned. Instead of a 50% reduction to 20 hours/week, we are anticipating a 25% reduction to 30 hours a week.

Library Staff and Friends send heart-felt condolances to the Clausen family. And our appreciation for the generous gift bestowed upon the Library.

Good News #1 - PG Reads Raises $20,000

All the pledges for PG Reads for the Library have been collected and tallied. And the grand total is.... (drum rrrroll).... $20,000!

The money has been raised by the children and will be spent on the children. Senior Librarian, Lisa Maddalena, is looking forward to buying stacks and stacks of new books, audio books and DVDs for the children. And she's excited about planning some special programs as well.

To everyone who participated in this enormously successful fundraising campaign,

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Why I Love My Library Contest Winners

Our "Why I Love My Library" Contest inspired wonderful poems, drawings, essays, and one-liners. In fact there were so many funny, inspiring, or heartwarming entries that our judges, Laura Headley and Hadassah Contreras, had a difficult time making their choices. But the 1st place winners are:

Preschool: Kayleigh McCullough (picture)
Grades K-2: Ji-Eun Song (picture)
Grades 3-5: Mackenzie Miller (poem)
Middle School: Jaeyeon Park (picture)
High School: Rachel Bohrman (essay)
Adults: Melinda Wates (poem)
Senior Citizen: Mary Beach (collage)

Thank you to every one who entered the contest, and to the fabulous local merchants who dontated prizes: I'm Puzzled, Tessuti Zoo, and The Works.

Winning entries are currently on display at the Library. Come by and see how talented our patrons are.... Meanwhile we'll leave you with the opening stanza of Mackenzie Miller's poem:

"The Five Senses of my Library and one Extra"

I love my library

because of its smell,

it smells like

books

and new adventures

waiting to happen.

An Amazing Birthday Gift from "PG Reads"

There were many memorable moments during the Library's 100th Birthday Party. But the most memorable moment was when the children of our community presented Lisa Maddalena with a special birthday gift - a gift they earned through reading. (See blog entry for April 19, 2008.)

As Linda Bailey, chair of PG Reads for the Library, shared: "So far, the amount the kids raised through their efforts has been a closely guarded secret... But that secret is about to be revealed."

Holding a small, beautifully wrapped box, she continued, "This box. It’s tiny, isn’t it? Yet it holds something truly magnificent. Inside this box is a gift of love to the Library and its wonderful staff."

Addressing the children, she continued."The check that is inside this box represents your dedication and commitment, and some 50,000 minutes of reading that you did over a two week period. It is proof that you truly can make a difference, one book and one minute, at a time. Through this gift, you give back some of the joy the library has given you, and help ensure that same experience for children yet to come."

Then the children carefuly passed the box from one to another, finally presenting it to Senior Librarian, Lisa Maddalena. The crowd was silent as Lisa opened the box, unfolded the check, and announced the amount: $18, 057.99! There was a moment of silent awe, and then wild applause.

Ms. Bailey summed it up best when she addressed the children, " You are our greatest potential resource, our most compelling inspiration, and our profound hope for the future."

Everyone at the Library agrees. We thank you, every one of you, for your amazing gift to the Pacific Grove Public Library. You truly are making a difference, and an inspiration to us all.