One question I am often asked is - will libraries continue to exist in the future? With everything on the Internet, who needs libraries? Tonight's   "Random Acts of Culture and Purposeful Acts of Community" event at the Monterey Public Library thoughtfully, joyfully and loudly provided me with one very clear answer.

Imagine over 100 people gathering in a light-filled, evening hushed public library - but not to use computers, check out books or ask informational questions. Instead, these community members were here to enjoy cultural arts and events in celebration of National Library Week and National Volunteer Week - together. 

Beautiful harp music by Amy Krupski filled the air when the doors first opened. Then, two heart-felt songs by "Four on the Floor" barbershop singers led the way for an inventive and hilarious improv session by the "Mirth-o-Matics".  Noted young adult author Anne Ylvisaker was signing authographs for the release of her newest book - The Luck of the Buttons - as award-winning storyteller (and Library staff member) Dina Stansbury entertained and delighted in the Community Room. 

Poet Patrice Vecchione provided collage and poetry-writing encouragement to a focused group, while MC Lars wrapped up the evening with a rhythm-propelled set of "post-punk laptop rap". Early teens to 80 year-olds were singing and swaying to the beat of "Mr Raven" and "The iGeneration" - and cheering wildly as MC Lars gave a shout-out to "public libraries", "government funding" for public good and "education".

Every one of these local performers shared the unique ways they turned words, music, literature, information and learning into works of performance and art. They made visible the often solitary act of creativity - and in doing so - invited all of us present into a larger creative community. And attendees young and old reveled in the joy of that created community.

This, I saw tonight, is one of the futures of public libraries. A community center that not only strives to educate all, but to delight and inspire in concrete ways. A creativity lab, where experiences are developed and shared.  With community members of all ages.  In a community space that welcomes all.

Laughing, singing, talking, even dancing together is a tremendous antidote to "Bowling Alone" - creating new synapses in the brain, strengthening social connections, tapping into our own inner performer/artist/creator.  Children in storytimes experience this every week. And, in the vision of libraries for the future that I witnessed tonight, people from their second to eighth decades did too. 

Thanks to Library staff members Jeanne McCombs and Karen Brown, and the Friends of the Monterey Public Library, for creating and supporting Saturday night's "Random Acts of Culture and Purposeful Acts of Community."  It was an awesome evening!