Two weeks ago, it was my great pleasure to visit the Pacific Grove Public Library on the occasion of their 100^th birthday celebration. This is the library that my family visited weekly as my children were growing up – the place where the children’s librarian greeted my kids by name and made them feel right at home. This is the library where my two boys always found armloads of books to fill their curious minds with facts, ideas, and wonderful stories, and a place that inspired them both to become eager readers and lifelong learners.

Because the library has given so much to me and to my family, as I am sure it has to thousands of others over the last century, it did my heart good to see the outpouring of community spirit at the birthday party.  Over a four-hour period, over eight hundred people turned out.  Friends greeted friends, music was played, songs were sung, cakes were served and everyone was of good cheer. It was also wonderful to hear announced that recent fundraising activities in support of the library, including a children’s "Read-a-Thon", raised over $18,000 to buy new books! Congratulations to the Pacific Grove Library and its wonderful staff, and congratulations to everyone who turned out to celebrate this invaluable community treasure.