Today we celebrated new reading skills of 1st graders at our annual "I Can Read" party. This wonderful event includes a guest performer (this year a very entertaining balloon artist), a great, big cake, party favors, and a visit from special guest, The Cat in the Hat! The best thing about this yearly event is the opportunity to make a special occasion out of this milestone in a child's life. "I Can Read" participants are made aware that their new ability to read is indeed special, something so important that it calls for a party with all the trimmings.

Do you know someone who has just learned to read? If so, celebrate! Maybe you can't quite manage a visit from The Cat in the Hat or a balloon artist, but how about letting the new reader in your life sign up for his or her very own library card? Afterward, a little ice cream or cake couldn't hurt.

This week, the last of the Library's network of 22 public computer workstations was upgraded with new hardware and software. Twelve public computers and a free Wi-Fi network provide Internet service. Ten more computers offer access to the PALS Catalog, Library databases, and other digital resources. The new hardware combines with the City of Monterey's fiber-optic I-Net for swift surfing in the Library!

Monterey Public Library kicked off its 21st annual "Stories for Adults" series this week with a visit from one of America's best-loved tellers, Mary Gay Ducey. She told a heartbreaking tale about a boy who discovers that he and the rest of the town poor have been cheated by one of the town's wealthiest citizens, and the personal costs to those who challenge the status quo. She also told a hilarious tale of a woman who could not afford the price of her son's wedding feast, and used her wits to obtain the food she needed. Her last story was a very, very funny adaptation of the old Appalachian folktale "Wicked John".

The "Stories for Adults" series brings to our community storytellers from all over the country, who bring with them a variety of stories ranging from personal and historical narrative, literary retellings, traditional and regional lore, and international folk tales. Whatever the source of the story or the style of the teller, the stories presented in this series provide our community with an entertaining and enriching experience. Check out our Web site for information about upcoming storytelling activities.

Having worked here for over 20 years now, there are days when the library is a place where I observe things come to full circle. Yesterday morning I dropped by the Library Community Room where "Baby and Me Rhymetime" was in full swing. It was "Music and Play" day, and folk singer Nancy Raven was on hand to read books with simple, rhyming stories, play her ukelele, and sing to about 40 babies. Each of the little ones sat in their adult's lap, clapping, cooing, and bouncing along to the rhythm and rhyme - completely engaged. Suddenly, I spotted a "roamer" - a child with a vaguely familiar look about her. She toddled slowly and carefully among the babies, looking at their little faces with curiosity and delight. A young woman moved in the baby's direction and gently gathered her up. I immediately recognized the mom. She was a shelver here at the library, throughout her high school years. She left the library when she went off to college, and is now an adult, married, and has a lovely little baby girl who seems just as much at home in the library as her mom! I have no doubt that this little girl will grow up to be a reader and a regular library visitor. It's a lovely circle to behold.

Happy 2007! Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet? Is your plan to lose five pounds? Learn to speak another language? Expand musical horizons by listening to more Vaughan Williams, Motley Crue, or The Dixie Chicks? Discover a foolproof recipe for Asagio-Balsamic-Sage Ciabatta? Identify that little bird with the yellowish head and black eye-stripe that's been hanging around the feeder? Add a few titles to your "must read" book list?

No matter what your New Year's resolutions might be, the Library is sure to have something to help you get started. Search the PALS catalog for a subject that interests you, or ask a librarian for assistance. What are your New Year's resolutions, and how can the library help you keep them?

The Friends of the Monterey Public Library are hosting their yearly GIANT Book Sale this weekend.

Friday, January 5th 4:00-6:00 *** Friends Members only, but join at the door!

Saturday, January 6th 10:00-2:00 *** Everyone's welcome!

Come browse through a huge selection of books!

Proceeds from the sale are used by the Friends to support library programs and materials.

The PALS Web Catalog has a new look for the new year. Tabs and a simplifed design improve navigation, searching, and displays. It's easier to log in and stay logged in to view your checkouts, holds, saved searches, and optional reading history, request materials, rate books, recommend new titles, and search library databases. An individual RSS feed is available to alert you when your requests arrive, your checked out items are due, or there are other changes in your PALS record.

To give us your comments on the new design and features, go to the PALS suggestion page.

The PALS catalog includes materials from Monterey Public Library, Pacific Grove Public Library, Colton Hall Museum, and the Mayo Hayes O'Donnell Library.