Children can experience the joy of reading to a real live dog in the Barks and Books program at the San Marino Public Library. Elementary school-aged children are invited to become special reading buddies for two very gentle and loving dogs: Scarlett the Dachshund, or Popcorn, a Jack Russell Terrier, both of whom love to listen to stories about animals. For children, this reading practice builds expertise and confidence to help them succeed inside and outside the classroom. This program is a joint effort between the San Marino Public Library and Pasadena Humane Society volunteers. These special reading activities will begin in January 2007. If you would like your child to participate, please contact the library for specific dates and times.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Now it’s the time to renew your membership in the San Marino Friends of the Library. Organized in 1958, the Friends have actively supported the library for nearly 50 years! In recent years Friends’ funds have purchase all of the children’s books, the DVD collection the books on tape and programming for children and youth. The membership term is from January to December and all members need to renew to their memberships in order to take advantage of the benefits offered. This year members in the Family Category and above will automatically receive an extended loan period of six weeks on all items, except the newest books; plus free DVD rentals. If you are not a member - join today – membership envelopes are available at the Circulation Desk. Show your support for your local library and participate in improving services. For more information, call the library at 626-300-0776.
If you are an adult and can spare a couple of hours a week on a regular basis, the Public Library can use your help. With the recent staff reductions, help is needed to get returned books back in their right places. Children’s books, adult’s books, Chinese books, books on CD, they all need to be put away. The best time for volunteering is in the morning and early afternoon, between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. This is enjoyable work for those who like to be around books and libraries. If you are interested, please call Rex at the Library, (626) 300-0776.
Come In and Check Out Our New DVDs!
A new order of DVDs has just arrived. Come check out the selection.Holiday Titles:
- A Christmas Story
- It’s a Wonderful Life
Children’s Films:
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- Nanny McPhee
- The Little Mermaid
- Curious George
- Over the Hedge
Chinese Language:
- Yi Yi
- Electric Shadows
Plus These Feature Films:
- Little Women
- American Graffiti
- Sense & Sensibility
- The Da Vinci Code
- The Breakfast Club
- The Phantom of the Opera
Friday, November 17, 2006
Rose Pruning Change of Venue
Due to the construction of the new Public Library and limited space in the Temporary Library, Ron Serven’s annual Rose Pruning Workshop at the Library will be held in Lacy Park’s Thurnher House (1485 Virginia Road). The program will be Saturday, January 20, 2007 at 9:30 AM. This popular program will return to the Library when the new building is completed. Call the Parks Department at (626) 304-9648 for more information.Author Trefoni Michael Rizzi and his good friend Tedrick De Bear will be at the San Marino Public Library on Saturday, December 16th at 2:00 p.m. They will present How to make the most of your road trip and discuss their newly released book, “Teddy’s Travels : America’s National Parks”. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bear and pose for pictures with Tedrick. During this event the library will be collecting new & unused Teddy Bears & stuffed animals to donate to a local shelter.
Holiday Fun at the Public Library
The San Marino Public Library will be hosting a Holiday Card Making Workshop on Thursday, December 21st. Children of all ages are invited to drop by the library between the hours of 1-4 p.m. to enjoy an afternoon of creating fantastic holiday cards for family and friends. Materials and helpers will be provided.
Unless you’ve been out of town the past few months, you really don’t need this report to tell you the San Marino Public Library’s most important construction news thus far. You can see it for yourself, whenever you pass the corner of West Drive and Huntington Drive…
The old building is gone!
Caterpillars, construction crews and trucks now reign where patrons once roamed. Even the parking lot, surrounding pavement and landscaping are no more.
For awhile, in their place were piles of rubble, neatly separated for recycling. “All the steel was delivered to a facility that may reuse or melt the material to form new material,” explains City Manager Matt Ballantyne. “The concrete was crushed and taken to a facility that will convert it to gravel so that it may be used for base material when constructing or repairing streets. Landscaping material can be ground up and reused as mulch.”
For supporters of the new library, this certainly gives new meaning to the expression ‘good riddance.’ For one thing, the ‘environment’ for library patrons throughout the community is changing for the better; the new 29,000 square foot building will provide long needed space for expanded collections, more computers, and larger seating areas. At the same time, the construction project’s overseers are being good environmentalists. 78% of the old building has been recycled.
Additionally, by mid October, survey work to define the limits of the new building and site was completed. “Rough grading followed and included tasks of overexcavation backfill and compaction of soil to 95% density,” Construction Manager Alex Main reported to the City Council in November. “This densely compacted soil will support foundations for the new building.”
In other words, library patrons can rest assured that they won’t find, virtually in their own backyard, a 21st century version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Installation of a mainstay of 21st century life – access to utilities such as gas, electric, water and sewer service – has begun as well. “Utility contractor are coordinating their site layouts so that all pipes and conduits will configure properly around the basement and building foundations,” Alex Main reveals.
However, perhaps the most exciting gift’ is that the foundation was poured – appropriately enough, just in time for the holidays.
“From the beginning, library supporters envisioned the new library as the foundation – the cornerstone – of our community,” says City Librarian Carolyn Crain. “It’s no accident that the plans include a Community Meeting Room, A Lifelong Learning Center and areas for children and young adults. But we also view the new library as a gift for our residents,” adds Crain with a smile. “It’s a beautiful package we can’t wait to unwrap in 2007.”
To become a supporter of the San Marino Public Library Foundation, contact Maureen Micklich, Director of Development, at 626.300.0779 or visit the Foundation’s website, http://brandnewlibrary.org.
