AUGUST 21, 2010
Music to My Ears
I mentioned in my post about the Victoria State Library in Melbourne that its front steps and lawn are a popular gathering spot where people linger and are sometimes treated to free musical entertainments. Well, Monterey Public Library doesn’t have grand front steps or a lawn, but yesterday after school let out, we were treated to a spontaneous performance of show tunes by several local kids in their early teens. They sang, among others, “My Favorite Things” from
The Sound of Music and then a song from
Les Miserables. As I listened, I thought to myself, “I don’t know what to make of this younger generation, but I sure like it!”
,
In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUGUST 21, 2010
The Tale of Two Libraries
What do Monterey Public Library and the Victoria State Library in Melbourne, Australia have in common? Me! I just spent many hours in both institutions in the space of one week! But there are a few other similarities, too. They are both housed in beautiful buildings made even more interesting by displays of fine art, historic photographs, are filled with books and other resources and are very, very well used by the community for learning and enjoyment. Even our vision statements are very similar. Monterey’s is “Inspire, Delight, Educate All – the Library IDEA!” Victoria’s is “Information. Ideas. Inspiration. For everyone.” Pretty close!
The two libraries were established just five years apart in the mid-19th century – Monterey Public Library in 1849, and Victoria State Library in 1954, although Monterey’s was originally a subscription library and Melbourne’s a free public library from the very beginning. In fact, it was one of the first free public libraries in the entire world. Another difference is that Victoria’s library still occupies its original location - and then some. It is comprised of 23 buildings that occupy an entire city block. The main building is a magnificent structure which features a spectacular domed reading room, marble staircases, hand cut bluestone walls, and many grand Victorian flourishes. It also has a popular public reading room on the ground floor, a book store, a café, and the front steps and lawn provides a delightful gathering and recreation area where Melbournians are treated to free musical performances. This is a breathtaking landmark that is well worth a visit if you’re ever Down Under.
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUGUST 17, 2010
Youth Area Moving Days!
From Friday, August 20th through Monday, August 23rd...
For the first time in over 20 years, the youth area is being almost entirely redone! This is part of our Library Help Desk changes. The primary purpose of the redesign is to increase staff ability to see customers in the youth area and your ability to see the Library Help Desk with staff ready to help you. Basically, the picture books are moving to where the nonfiction now is, the nonfiction is moving to where the fiction now is, and the fiction is moving to what is now the picture book room. There will be many advantages to the move and we hope you will come and visit us to experience them next week!
So how will it all happen??
Huge carts are arriving on Thursday 8/19 and will be stored in the Community room. Work begins on Friday 8/20 at 7 a.m. when workers will load materials on the huge carts and store them in the Community room. Once the materials are out of the youth area, then the moving can begin! During this time,the youth area and the Community room will roped off and unavailable for normal use. Because of this, there will be very limited access to youth materials on Friday, Saturday and Monday . However, we hope to have the Youth area up and running by opening Tuesday - and we will keep you updated on this!
So, please "pardon our dust" (and noise) and come and see the new space on Tuesday afternoon!
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 30, 2010
Honored for Excellence
Monterey Public Library was the recipient of a Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award in the Education category, presented at the Chamber’s 24
th annual event on July 29. In recognizing the Library the Chamber took into consideration six factors: 1) Long and short-term goals; 2) Performance / Product Excellence; 3) Employee Satisfaction; 4) Sustainability; 5) Chamber and Community Involvement; and 6) Success Factor. Every one of these areas of excellence is a tribute to the Library staff at all levels, the Library Board, the Friends of the Library, and the City of Monterey which provides funding for Library services.
This honor comes at a very important time as many public services are threatened by economic uncertainty and Library staff is working harder with fewer resources to provide the best possible service to meet our vision to “Inspire, Delight, and Educate All.” It is a powerful reminder that the Library is valued by business and civic organizations for the contribution it makes to the stability and well-being of our entire community.
Thank you, Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, for your vote of confidence!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 25, 2010
Best of Times, Worst of Times
With a nod to to Charles Dickens, at the Monterey Public Library we are once again celebrating wonderful events and opportunities - and preparing for the loss of services that our community has enjoyed for decades.
Today was the last Sunday that the lights and computers were switched on, the books were straightened and shelved, the doors were unlocked and welcoming staff helped hundreds of customers during four open hours. Seven-day-a-week service has been a tradition at Monterey Public Library for over thirty years, and we very much regret closing this day for our community (an average of 500 visits made per Sunday).
Due to the loss of one-time funding from the City (which kept Sunday hours open last fiscal year), and pending layoffs of three valued library staff members, the Library will be operating with reduced open hours beginning August 1.
Our new schedule will be closed Sundays, open Monday through Wednesday 12 noon to 8 p.m. and open Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Storytimes will move to Thursday mornings, and Saturday open hours will be increased from four to eight.
We hope the added hours on Saturday will help those who can only visit the Library on the weekend. We know there are many of you - and we especially realized that during the Library's Summer Reading Program that just ended last week.
What a summer it was! Over 11,000 (yes, that's right - over
eleven thousand!) books were read by Monterey Public Library's young readers; over 350 children, teens and adults celebrated at a high-spirited beach party for the End of Summer Reading last Wednesday.
And supporting all those young readers are the tireless Friends of the Monterey Public Library, who were out in full-force at this past weekend's Author's Event at the Barnyard to help raise money for the Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove and County libraries. There were over 40 authors, colorful books, warm personalities and local celebrities in attendance - along with hundreds of booklovers.
Their efforts have already raised hundreds and hundreds of dollars this month - at the City's 4th of July Lawn Party, monthly book sale, through a Borders Express benefit shopping weekend - and all the proceeds go to buy more books and materials. Three cheers for our Friends!
So, although it was with sadness that I left the Library at 5 p.m. closing tonight - along with the energetic Sunday staff team - Dina, Inga, Joslyn, Mariann, Elliot, Jodee (look for a blog post from these folks soon), it was also with hope - that we can wait out these difficult times together, keep seeking innovative ways of delivering services to our community, raising funds and revenues - and maybe, someday, opening the doors on Sunday once again.
,
In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 21, 2010
Shades and Stories of Monterey Documentary Now on DVD
Shades and Stories of Monterey, a documentary film produced by the Library about life in Monterey during the mid-20th century, based on individual stories told on-camera by longtime residents and filled with photos collected from the albums of local families, now available on DVD. Buy from Library Store $10, or call 831.646.3949.
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 21, 2010
Reduced Library Hours Coming August 1
A reminder that because of budget and staff cuts for the fiscal year that began July 1, the Library will be reducing operating hours. Effective August 1, the Library will be closed on Sundays, and open Monday through Wednesday 12 noon - 8 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Our staff will do our best to provide good service to you, but there may be longer waits for service. We appreciate your support and patience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 3, 2010
History Volunteers Needed for Library California History Room and City Museums
The City of Monterey is looking for volunteers to assist with presenting, interpreting and preserving Monterey history. A meeting for prospective volunteers will be held on Wednesday, July 7, from 7 - 8:30 p.m., in the City of Monterey's Emergency Operations Center. The presentation will include an introduction to Monterey history and an orientation to the duties and responsibilities of volunteering at the Presidio of Monterey Museum, Colton Hall Museum and California History Room in the Monterey Public Library. Following this meeting, interested volunteers may sign up for three training sessions, which will be held on July 14, 21 and 28. More detail
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 3, 2010
Reduced Operating Hours at the Library
The Monterey Public Library Board responded to budget and staff cuts for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, by approving a reduced schedule of Library operating hours. Effective August 1, the Library will be closed on Sundays, and the schedule for the remaining days of the week will be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 12 noon - 8 p.m., and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The decision to eliminate Sunday hours was based on library use patterns and a customer and public survey taken in Spring 2009. Even though Sunday was cited as the least popular day among survey respondents, 600 people come into the Library on an average Sunday, so this was a decision that was made with regret.
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 2, 2010
Learning a Language?
Are you one of the many Library customers learning a new language? If so, prepare to take some notes. As of July 1st, our subscription to Mango Languages, a subscription product that allowed our customers to access self-paced online courses in a great number of languages, ceased. We have switched to a new subscription product,
Powerspeak, that provides more content such as videos, stories, and interactive graphics, but a more limited selection of languages.
For all of you studying Afrikaans or Greek (among others), you'll want to take a look at our recently updated
Language-Learning Subject Guide. This page has tons of links to free web-based language sites, providing everything from phrase guides and video courses to podcasts and interactive games. If you want more, browse movies in the Library's collection that are dubbed or have subtitles in the language you are studying, or watch our video on translating Library magazine articles into the language of your choice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNE 30, 2010
Kids SEA Lab Workshop - Thursday, July 1st - 3:00 pm
Make and race your own plankton model in the Camp SEA Lab "Race for Life or Death: Plankton's Fight." How do these mighty miniatures survive for even a day? Find out on Thursday, July, 1st at 3:00 p.m. in the Library's Community Room. Limited to the first 30 kids ages 8-12. Join us!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNE 19, 2010
A Family Album
For a good read, I recommend
A Family Album by Penelope Lively This story is set at a big Edwardian estate in suburban London called Allersmead, where we meet the family of Charles and Alison, their six children, and their au pair, Ingrid, who came to live with the family to help take care of their first born and remained with them for 40 years. The story takes place over a period of time spanning the 1970s to the present.
The mother, Alison, never aspired to anything but raising a large, happy family. She prepares beautiful food and creates fun activities for the children. Over the years, the house becomes something like a museum to the memory of the six children with photos of the kids at various ages, the crafts and drawings made during childhood on display throughout. Charles, a writer, is moody and detached, and spends most of his time hiding away in his study, while Ingrid, the cheerless but steady au pair helps keep the household chaos under control.
The omniscient narrator describes several scenes from the family’s life over the years – a birthday party where one of this children is taken to the hospital in an ambulance, a summer vacationing in a cottage by the seaside, secret games that the children played in the cellar, and the time Ingrid packed up and left, only to return a few months later. Then each of the nine characters is given a chapter to present his or her own memory of events previously described by the narrator. The result shows how a family can, at once, know the other members intimately, and remain very much an individual, often with very different memories of and reactions to shared experiences.
Penelope Lively has a unique gift to convey a saga like this – rich, detailed, and descriptive yet lovely and compact. If you belong to a book group, put this one on your “must read” list because it is very worthy of discussion!
Category: Staff Reads
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNE 17, 2010
Six Days a Week
For many years, the Monterey Public Library, a department of the City of Monterey, has provided a seven-day a week schedule of services and programs for people of all ages. For the past year, thanks to citywide contributions, these programs and services have continued. In August of 2010, this will change.
Last summer the Council approved a shared effort by the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Fund and employee groups to maintain funding for specific city programs, including the Library’s California History Room, Youth Services and Sunday open hours. Thanks to their effort, the community was spared a substantial reduction in library services; story times, local history research and over 30,000 Sunday visits to the Library were continued.
However, this one-time money is ending, and the City’s economic situation has worsened. The cost for continuing all city services at the level they are now continues to rise, while funding declines, affected by decreasing local revenues, unexpected State takeaways, and increasing employee costs. The City’s budget gap for this year and next is $5 million, and growing.
At their meeting, this Tuesday, the City Council approved a budget that includes citywide cuts, from police to planning to building maintenance to the Library. Several Library employees will face layoffs. The Library will be implementing service reductions in the coming months; I expect that by late summer the Library will be closed one day a week with additional reductions in library hours likely. A reduced open hours schedule will be presented to the Library Board at the June 23 meeting at the Library.
These are extraordinarily difficult and challenging times for communities, with no immediate or easy solution in sight. Some residents have suggested a TOT tax increase for November’s ballot, others have recommended further cutting employees, costs and benefits. For the upcoming year, all but one City employee group has agreed to salary concessions; services will be reduced and some employees will be lost.
At the Library - even with fewer open days and hours - we will continue to provide lifelong learning, skilled and service-focused staff, a welcoming community place - inspiration, delight and education for all. For the long-term, the Library Board, Friends and staff are working to enhance city funding and strengthen community investment in the Library through increased giving and endowment building.
We are determined to sustain California’s first public library, and its legacy of literacy, through the next 161 years.
I look forward to receiving your comments, questions and suggestions - via this blog, my email at buiburto@ci,monterey.ca.us or my work phone (831) 646-5601.
Categories: Director's Blog,
In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNE 12, 2010
Summer Reading Program Surprise
Last Friday, we received a call from the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library in Fitzgerald, Georgia telling us that they had been given some tickets for the U.S. Open Golf Tournament. The ticket donor gave them to the southern Georgia library asking if they could arrange for the tickets be distributed to someone who would take some children to the event. The Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Library, in turn, offered the tickets to Monterey Public Library, thinking that we might be in a better position to accomplish this, given our proximity to Pebble Beach.
So, we held a surprise drawing for the tickets the following day at our Summer Reading Program Kick-off Party, and now two local kids will be having a day at this world-class event with a parent in tow. As the mom of one of the ticket winners said of her son, “He will be giving his dad an awesome Father’s Day gift!"
Thanks, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library and your donor for your generosity! You made a couple of dads very happy (and some children, too!)
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNE 10, 2010
Mom - I petted a python!
At the Monterey Public Library?
Our Summer Reading Kick-off party started the week off with a SPLASH as hundreds of kids, teens and adults braved the heat last Saturday to sign up for summer reading, watercolor paint, enjoy musical performers, learn about water conservation and chat with a pirate. And the Friends of the Library monthly book sale added to the fun.
Sunday was much more sedate, with a lovely fundraising tea in a historic Monterey garden, catered by the talented Friends to raise money for the Ruth Vreeland Fund - and more folklore materials and programs for kids and adults in the Library. Amy Krupski provided wafting harp music; just perfect for finger sandwiches and tea sipped from delicate china cups. Over $3,000 was raised in memory of dear Ruth.
Tuesday night the tireless Friends sponsored an author's reading for a crowd of over 50 writers, poets and community members. Phyllis Theroux's new book,
The Journal Keeper, enthralled the audience; her voice brought her words to life and touched her listeners.
And on to Thursday - "Tree Frog Treks" made their way to the La Mesa Bookmobile stop and the Library Community Room. That's where the large and lovely banana-colored python made its appearance, along with other exotic and sleepy-eyed reptiles, delighting scores of kids young and old.
You never know what adventure might await you - in the lines of a book, the lilt of a song, the quiet of a cozy reading nook - or the aargggh of a pirate, the smile of a friend, the smooth stretch of a scaled python - at the Library!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNE 4, 2010
Maximizing Your Memory--Maintain Your Brain
.jpg)
It’s late at night. You open the refrigerator door and stare into it, as if mesmerized, forgetting what you were looking for. Or you walk from one room to another in your house and halfway there you forget the reason why. Oh, oh! Oh no! You’re running late for an appointment, but you’ve forgotten where you put your car keys. There are four people waiting behind you at an ATM and, all of a sudden, you can’t remember your password. You have an important call to make but discover you’ve left your cell phone someplace. You can’t remember where. In these fast paced times, it’s a challenge to remember everything you need to take care of. Help is on the way. Join Pat Potter, Program Director, at the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California & Northern Nevada and learn tips and strategies for improving your memory. For an afternoon you won’t forget.
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNE 3, 2010
Summer Reading Kick-off Party!
Come, one and all, to our Summer Reading 2010 Kick-off Party! This Saturday, June 5th, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., enjoy the musical stylings of ZunZun, painting lessons with local artist June Poe, a photo booth, snacks, and much more. For kids and teens, get your first chance to sign-up for the 2010 summer reading program, and adults can pick up forms to start reviewing your favorite books of the summer.
The Library will be hopping with all kinds of water-themed activities. There will be indoor and outdoor games, prizes, crafts and lots of fun - this is a not to be missed event for the whole family!
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAY 29, 2010
This Time Together - A Good Summer Read
This Time Together is a memoir by comedienne and actress Carol Burnett which includes a series of anecdotes about her early years in show business, and her phenomenal rise to success as a Broadway and television actress, and host of a long-running variety show during the 60s and 70s. This book is filled with funny stories about Burnett’s experiences with some of the most iconic names in the entertainment industry - it includes lots of interesting show business lore and glimpses of the inner workings of a television program genre from a bygone era.
Without any connections in the entertainment industry, Carol Burnett’s relatively easy entre to show business and her rapid rise to stardom not only speak of her tremendous talent and personal drive, but of her singularly good fortune to be in the right place at the right time. She gives generous credit to the people who opened doors for her and to her co-workers. You never feel for one minute that this star isn’t humbled by her natural talent and grateful for the good luck to have been able to fulfill her childhood dreams.
This enjoyable book, with its short, snappy chapters and plentiful laughs, makes for a perfect summer read.
Category: Staff Reads
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAY 22, 2010
Her Fearful Symmetry
Once upon a time, long, long ago, in 12
th grade English, my classmates and I analyzed a William Blake poem that begins…
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Audrey Niffenegger explores some of the same themes found in “Tyger!” in her newest book
Her Fearful Symmetry. Here we meet twenty-year old identical twin sisters Julia and Valentina Poole, who are inseparable. Although they look alike, dress alike, and act alike, they don’t always think alike, but Julia has the dominant personality, and Valentina has always just gone along with whatever Julia decides.
The twins have dropped out of several colleges and are just drifting along aimlessly when, out of the blue, they receive a letter saying that their Aunt Elspeth has died and has left them her London flat located right next door to a morbidly spectacular Victorian cemetery. Elspeth’s will stipulates that Julia and Valentina may do whatever they wish with the flat, but only after they have lived in it for at least one year. What ensues is a tale of long-held secrets, bad things that emerge from good intentions, restless spirits, self-destruction and ghosts. This is an enjoyable read, but I recommend that you read William Blake’s poem as a companion to
Her Fearful Symmetry, and you’ll get much more out of the story.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAY 6, 2010
Library Help Desk is a Work in Progress
A year-long project culminated this week with the opening of the Library Help Desk in the middle of the first floor of the Monterey Public Library. This new configuration was designed by staff to help serve our customers faster and better by providing a one-stop space for handling your questions and providing all of our services. In addition, our staff have been picking-up new skills to support each other with the day-to-day work of running our Library.
We love the look of our new space, with its visibility, camaraderie, and the shiny new feel. We've got tons more ideas about how to use the space we've freed-up in the kids' area and the checkout area, but we know we haven't thought of everything yet. As we settle into our new home, we'd love to hear your feedback and stories about how our new Library Help Desk is serving you, and what you'd like to see next at your Monterey Public Library.
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APRIL 20, 2010
It's Volunteer Appreciation Week!
The Library is fortunate to have great staff and great volunteers. This year over 40 volunteers have been supporting staff in keeping the collections in order and the library neat and attractive, providing educational and cultural programs, indexing and preserving local history materials, and helping customers with technology. Volunteers take books to the homebound and get packets ready for families with new babies. Volunteers even help raise funds to ease the profound budget cuts we've been experiencing lately. Some are as young as seven, while others have been retired longer than that. While many have just started, a few have been with us for decades! Some are in the military, others are students, and a few are unemployed, All make the choice to serve our community. Your library wouldn't be the same place without them. Please join us in expressing appreciation to these generous folks.
Category: In the Know
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
