San Marino Public Library to Close For Big Move The San Marino Public Library will close on November 30, 2007 for the big move into its new home. It will remain shuttered throughout the month of December. No books will be due and no fines will be assessed while the library is closed. Please plan to attend the grand opening of the new library on January 26, 2008.

Food for Thought

Children, ages 4 - 12, are invited to the public library to participate in the annual In-N-Out reading program. For every 5 books read, children will receive a reading award good for a free hamburger or cheeseburger from In-N-Out Restaurant. The reading program will run from Saturday, October 13 - Saturday, November 24.

Theater of Puppets

Come and witness 4 popular folktales brought to life by Bob Stone and his lively, colorful puppets that range from 2 to 5 feet tall. Saturday, October 20th @ 2:00 p.m. Fun for the entire family!!!

Pirate Day

November 3rd is Pirate day at the San Marino Public Library. Be sure to get an invitation to this fun filled afternoon of creating cool pirate crafts, gear & loot. Drop by the library before Thursday, November 1st and pick up a form to showcase your creative talents by drawing a picture of your favorite book pirate. Bring back your drawing and receive your invitation. It's as simple as that!!! All ages are welcome to participate. There will also be an opportunity to meet and greet a special pirate guest.

Meet at the New Crowell Public Library

One of the best things about the new library is that it will offer three much-needed spaces for community meetings. The first is the Barth Community Room, a general purpose meeting room with seating for 80, along with an amplified lectern and an overhead projector. The Schow Patio Garden, adjacent to the Community Room, is a comfortable outdoor venue. The Thornton Room, on the library's upper floor, offers an intimate, elegant setting with room for 20 around a conference table.

These spaces are available for rental fees ranging from $15 to $75 per hour, depending on intended use and residency status of the renter. (Non-profits and San Marino organizations pay reduced fees.) Other fees may apply. For more information, call the library at 626 300-0779.

Volunteers Needed For the Big Move

During December, the Library is going to be moving from the temporary facility to the new Crowell Public Library and help will be needed. The City has hired a moving company to transfer the Library's materials, so they will do most of the heavy lifting, but library staff will need help shifting materials on the new shelves to use the space efficiently and make everything fit just right. This will be a big job. Also, we'll need some detail-oriented people to help us make sure that the books are in correct order, which means going through the collection item by item. There will be other tasks as well.

We're gathering names and contact information early so that we'll be ready to go when the time comes. Volunteers should be 15 or older. As tasks and timing come into better focus, we want to be able to reach those who want to take part. If you would like to help, please contact Rex at (626) 300-0777 or by email, rex@ci.san-marino.ca.us.

Library Increases Worker Productivity

The Library is great at helping students complete their homework and stock the latest mysteries for its loyal patrons. But did you know that it can also help grownups get their work done faster?

San Marino Parks Manager Ron Serven discovered this service recently when he was trying to figure out if weather had any effect on local “limb drop”. “I used to go over to the old library and research the records myself,” Serven said, “But my schedule is so busy now. I called over, and the librarian found the weather records for me right away. It was fabulous how quickly they responded.”

Serven noted that he was able to get this service even with the Library in its temporary facility. “Imagine how fast they will be able to help when they open in their new building in January,” he said.

The same reference service is available to members of the public as well as City Hall staff. Just call during our open hours at 626 300-0777, or email your questions to smpl "at" CityofSanMarino.org any time. Maybe we can save you some time on the job!

Friends Book Sale November 17

On Saturday, November 17, from 8-noon, the Friends of the San Marino Public Library will hold their annual used book sale. There are sure to be plenty of bargains among these gently used, donated books. Some may be suitable for holiday giving! The sale will be held in the Temporary Library next to the construction site: 1800 Huntington Drive, San Marino. Call 626 300-0777 if you have questions.

Native American Dance & Culture

Join us at the San Marino Public Library for an afternoon with Rodney Howard, one of the premier Native American Dancers on the West Coast. Witness as he brings to life dances, songs and stories to life from tribes across North America. Performing in brilliant traditional regalia, he will put on a display of dances from the 1400’s to the modern day Pow Wows. Dances include Grass Dance, Round Dance, Eagle Dance, Hoop Dance and more. The exciting event will take place on Saturday, November 17th @ 2:00 p.m.

Looking for Something to Read?

The San Marino Public Library is now offering animated books reviews on its website.

These book reviews are great for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Sponsored in part by the San Marino Chapter of the National Charity League, this online resource is another innovative way children can find new and interesting titles to read. You can also sort and search Valentine and Carver’s accelerated reader list, and then search to see if the Public Library carries that specific title. To enjoy this book discovery experience first hand, go to http://sanmarinopl.org and click on "Children’s Webpage". Then click on the “Animated Book Reviews” link.

Volunteers Needed For the Library Transition

We don’t have exact dates, but the big move into the new Crowell Public Library is coming up toward the end of the year! The City has hired a moving company to transfer the Library’s materials, so we’ll rely on them for the heavy lifting, but we’re going to need help shifting materials on the new shelves to use the space efficiently and make everything fit just right. Also, we’ll need some detail-oriented people to help us make sure that the books are in correct order, which means going through the collection item by item. There will be other tasks as well.

We’re taking this opportunity to build a list of names and contact information for those who are interested in assisting with these efforts. As tasks and timing come into better focus, we want to be able to reach those who want to take part. If you would like to help, please contact Rex at (626) 300-0777 or by email, rex@ci.san-marino.ca.us.