Steinbeck Exhibit

In celebration of John Steinbeck's birthday on February 27th, Esther Trosow has put together a fascinating exhibit on the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Many of the Pagrovian settings used by Steinbeck in his work, as well as locations where he and his friend Ed Ricketts lived, worked, and played are featured.

In addition to the exhibit, books by or about Steinbeck are displayed, and can be checked out by patrons with Pacific Grove or Monterey Library cards.

For more information on the Steinbeck-Pacific Grove connection, see Esther's Trosow Steinbeck's Pacific Grove Driving Tour.

Fund Our Library Campaign update

In the past two months, the Fund Our Library Campaign has raised $36,000.

That is 36,000 additional dollars for the Library's budget for fiscal year 2010-2011.

We are thrilled with this response, and we still have a long ways to go to reach our goal of $250,000. That is the amount needed to increase library hours for next fiscal year. (City Administration has indicated their intent to maintain current funding of $400,000 for next fiscal year.)

At the recent Library Summit, there were numerous ideas for long-term fundraising, including another ballot measure, and starting a foundation. The Fund Our Library Campaign is short-term fundraising - to keep the Library open while long-term funding is established.

The Fund Our Library Campaign is not just for PG residents. Anyone and everyone can make a contribution of any amount. And if you know of anyone or any organization that might be willing to make a matching grant, please let us know!

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.”

Thank You for Your Support!

Publishing 1-2-3 Workshop

Workshop is Full!

Publishing 1-2-3 Workshop

Thursday, February 11th

7 pm

By popular demand, Laurie Gibson returns to offer her insightful workshop. In addition to describing the step-by-step process of how a manuscript becomes a printed book, Laurie will share some practical tips to help writers improve their chances of getting published.

Sponsored by

Friends of the Pacific Grove Library

$20 suggested donation

Library Summit - An Inspiring Success!

Wow! The Library Summit was the place to be this morning. The Museum was packed with Library supporters, who passionately engaged in meetings on various topics.

Attendees had to choose between inspiring sessions such as:

• Putting another Library Measure on the ballot.
• Creating a Library Foundation for long-term fundraising.
• Grassfoots fundraising ideas that can begin now.
• Creating more visibility for the Library.
• Consolidation of all libraries in Monterey County.
• Envisioning the Ideal Library for PG and the Future.
• "Who is Us?" - identifying the people, in PG & beyond, who use the Library.
• Creating a tactical plan to implement identified goals.

The Museum was humming with enthusiasm, creativity, expertise and ideas. As one young advocate shared during closing comments, "With all these ideas and all these people who care, I'm sure the Library will stay open. I'm not going to let it close."

Stay tuned for more comments and reports from the Summit, as well as opportunities to get involved!

Library Summit

What's happening with the Library now that Measure J didn't pass?

Will the Library remain open?

Will baby story times begin again?

Can you get more public access computers?

I wish you were open in the evening.

More New Books!

Will you be getting Playaways or Kindles?

Almost every day we get questions and comments like these.

A status quo budget is being recommended by City administrators for next year, (FY 2010-2011). However our Library is at risk.

To begin answering these questions and plan the Library's future, we are hosting a Library Summit. The City Manager, City Council Members, representatives from the Library Advisory Board and the Friends of the Library will all be there. And you're invited too!

Please join us to discuss:

How can we make the Pacific Grove Public Library the ideal library to serve the citizens of Pacific Grove, and how can we obtain sustainable funding for its future?

The meeting will be at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Saturday, February 6th

9 am until 1 pm

Please join us!

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.