January News & Notes

Pagrovians love their library! We didn't think it was possible, but 2010 is even busier than 2009.

Every day flies by with hundreds of people walking through our door, up to 1000 items being checked out, and all the public access computers in constant use. There is rarely a free moment to post to our blog.

Before January is only a memory, we want to share a few significant happenings at the Library.

• The Fund Our Library Campaign has raised almost $30,000 since December 15th! We have an ambitious goal of $250,000. So if you know of anyone with deep pockets and a generous heart, please let us know.... We are also interested in any businesses or charitable organizations that would be interested in making a matching grant. To all of our donors: Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
• The Friends of the Library's annual meeting, featuring Sharon Randall, was a tremendous success. If you missed the special opportunity to attend her talk, you can read "the short version" in the column she wrote after the event.
• And don't miss this month's wonderful exhibit of Matroishka dolls. Lisa Bennett's collection includes traditional peasant girls, as well as nesting dolls of the Russian Tsars and other Soviet leaders. Her collection also features one of the smallest Matroishka dolls ever seen!

Friends of the Library Annual Meeting

On Saturday, January 16th, the Friends of the Library is having their annual meeting. A brief business meeting will followed by the guest speaker -----Sharon Randall!

As many of you know, Randall wrote the immensely popular "Bay Window" column, which appeared in the Monterey Herald for many years. In only a few paragraphs she has always been able to capture the humor, complexities, sorrows and joys of human life. To her readers, Sharon has become a friend. And so this event has generated tremendous enthusiasm....so much so that all the tickets vanished in a few days!

If you already have a ticket, make sure you're there promptly at 2 pm to claim a seat. If you don't have a ticket, the doors will open to the all at 2:15 pm.

We are hoping that everyone who wants to attend will be able to claim a seat. However, given the enthusiasm of the response, the Friends of the Library are already talking to Sharon about a return visit - in a bigger hall.

Fund Our Library Campaign!

The Library has launched a Fund Our Library campaign to help cover costs for fiscal year 2010-2011.

This campaign is a direct result of people asking, “What can we do to support the Library, now that Measure J did not pass?”

The Fund Our Library campaign is not just for PG residents. Anyone and everyone can make a contribution of any amount.

Every penny contributed to the Fund Our Library campaign will be used for the Library, and only for the Library. Donors have the option of specifying if they would like their contribution to be used for: Operating Expenses; Books, CDs and DVDs; or “Greatest Need.”

To make a donation, click here to download a form you can print and send in with your check. Or make an online donation with your credit card by going to our website and clicking on the Make a Donation button. All donations are tax deductible.

December Booksale - Ongoing & Indoors

There will be no booksale in the arcade this month;

(our booksale volunteers are on holiday vacations).

However

inside the Library,

booksale shelves

are overflowing.

Come in & find

the perfect gift

for your friends

or yourself!

Ellen Hopkins @ the Library

Join us Thursday,

when the New York Times Bestselling Author

Ellen Hopkins

talks about writing,

an author's life, and

"the stories behind the stories."

Thursday, December 3rd

@ 4 pm

A Free Event for Teens

Adults - Suggested $10 Donation

Ellen Hopkins has been writing poetry for years. Her first novel-in-verse, Crank, became a word-of-mouth sensation, elicing praise from teens and critics alike. Ellen's other bestselling novels include Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, and Tricks. Don't miss this special opportunity to meet this highly acclaimed and popular author.

Thanksgiving Holiday

For the Thanksgiving Holiday

the Library will be closed

Thursday, November 26th - Monday November 30th

We wish you all a

Happy Thanksgiving

Today, today, today. Bless us...

and help us grow.

From the Rosh Hashanah Liturgy

May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, and also a friend. -Traditional Irish Blessing

Gratitude is heaven itself.

-William Blake

Give us thankful hearts...in this the season of Thy Thanksgiving. May we be thankful for health and strength, for sun and rain and peace. Let us seize the day and the opportunity and strive for that greatness of spirit that measures life not by its disappointments but by its possibilities.... - W.E.B. Du Bois.

Round the table

Peace and joy prevail

May all who share

this season's delight

enjoy countless more.

-Chinese Blessing-

All quotes taken from A Grateful Heart, edited by M. J. Ryan.

Meet the Author: Pat Tanumihardja

So what do you do when something terrible happens, like your favorite library doesn't get the 66.67% vote it needs to win a stable and secure source of funding?

Go sit in your grandmother's kitchen and let her comfort you with her wisdom and delicious home-cooking. Or this Thursday evening, go to the Library and experience the comfort, culture and cuisine of Asian Grandmothers.

Pat Tanumihardja will present her new cookbook, The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook. along with some tasty samples - Thursday, at 7 pm.

For more information, go to Pat's web site and blog:

http://www.ediblewords.com/

http://theasiangrandmotherscookbook.wordpress.com/