Library Infrastructure Fails Again The San Marino Public Library was without water or Internet access on Wednesday, February 19 because of a broken water pipe that flooded the basement. On Tuesday evening, February 18, just before midnight, library janitors placed an emergency call to the San Marino Fire Department in response to water flowing into the basement from the crawlspace that runs under the first floor around the perimeter of the library. Firemen secured the situation by shutting off the water, unplugging the downstairs computers, and pumping most of the standing water off of the floor. In the morning, plumbers climbed into this small tunnel to clamp off two leaks in corroded, asbestos-coated water pipes. A "recovery" company arrived to dry the basement. When they plugged in their fans, the library circuit breakers tripped. Electricians had to be called in to rewire the basement to supply enough power for the recovery team to begin their work. On Thursday morning, the pressure valve on top of the library water boiler, a mid-century behemoth that supplies heat through steam pipes, burst, flooding the basement again. Repairmen arrived to reveal deep corrosion throughout the pipes within the boiler's heart. A replacement valve for the antique heating unit has been ordered from New York from the only vendor in the country that can still supply the part. Though the plumbing will be patched, expensive recovery work take longer to complete. Water that flowed from the crawlspace was contaminated with detritus from the last half-century, including animal fecal matter and remains. This effluent soaked into the carpet and under the asbestos floor tiles of the library basement, creating an environment ideal for the growth of deadly molds. Staff works in the basement every day to put new books on the shelves, so the tiles and carpets may need to be replaced in order to make that work area habitable again. The presence of asbestos in the floor tiles means that this repair work will have to conform to stringent abatement standards.

Heart of the library boiler is clogged with fifty years of corrosion.

Council Appropriates $427,000 for Library Building Project The library advocacy community is enthusiastic about Council support to move forward with the library building project. Specifically, Council agreed to provide $7000 for revisions required for the State Library Bond grant application; $245,000 to contract with the architectural firm of Fields Devereaux to complete the Design Development phase of the project; and $175,000 to continue the momentum of the Capital Campaign. Council requested a specific goal for the campaign and would consider requests for additional campaign funding if the library is able to raise $2 million by December 31, 2003. Library Director Carolyn Crain made a staff presentation which included a brief look at the attributes and benefits of the planned library: designated homework area, community meeting room, local history room and book shop space; a library designed specifically to meet the needs of this community. Myra Frank, President of the Library Board of Trustees, explained that the current facility is more than rundown, its systems and infrastructure are failing and in many cases unsafe. "The city of San Marino deserves a first class library and the city should move forward now because the expense of building a quality structure will not decrease". Diana Nixon, Friends of the Library member, recalled her visits to the San Marino Library as a child, where she was introduced to the joys and pleasures of reading. As a parent, she desires that her daughter find the library an attractive and joyful destination; however, she described the library now as shabbier and less spacious than the library she grew up with. She went on to describe some of the faults of the 52 year old current building; it was built to hold 50,000 books and now holds over 90,000 books plus computers and collections of new formats that take up more space. The tables and chairs, part of the original 1951 furnishings, are squeezed close together making it difficult for staff and patrons to traverse the library. Lora Smith, resident and library employee, handed Council petitions with over 500 names of library users who support a new library and she described the inadequate emergency escape from the Processing room located in the basement. Initial funding for the Capital Campaign was provided by the San Marino Public Library Foundation. The Foundation hired Bob Bason of Charitable Funding Services Inc. (CFS) to conduct a campaign assessment survey, which was completed in May of 2002, and to organize the campaign. The added funding will allow CFS to compose the case statement and assist in the continued organization and training of volunteers to who will assume the actual tasks of the campaign. A Campaign Coordinator will be brought into the picture to direct the day-to day activities of the campaign. Council is providing funding for revisions to the State Bond grant application in order to apply in the second cycle and for the design development phase of the building project.

Queen and Princess Visit the Public Library On Saturday, February 8th the San Marino Public Library was honored to host a special Royal Tea Storytime which included a visit by representatives of the Tournament of Roses Queen Alexandra Wucetich and Princess Katherine Berber were on hand to read princess stories to the captivating audience. These stories included, "The Witch Who Wanted to be a Princess" by Lois G. Grambling and "The Princess and the Pea" by Alain Vaes. Afterward, the royal representatives answered questions and posed for photographs with those in attendance. Each child in attendance was presented with a special gift of a royal crown or tiara as a memento of this special occasion. The afternoon ended with refreshments being served on the patio, while Queen Alexandra and Princess Katherine mingled with the attendees. An enchanting conclusion to a Royal Event!

Rose Princess Katherine Berber, left, reads while Queen Alexandra Wucetich listens at the Princess Storytime at the San Marino Public Library

Not Enough Harrys? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be arriving soon. The fifth installment of J.K. Rowlings popular series will be available at the San Marino Public Library Saturday, June 21st. The library is requesting the public's assistance in deciding on how many copies we should purchase. 5, 10, 20, or more??? We would love to hear your opinions. Email us at smpl@ci.san-marino.ca.us and tell us what you think.

Get Your Fridge Magnets Here! Which days is the library open late again? What is their web page address? If you find it difficult to remember these details, come on into the library and buy a San Marino Public Library refrigerator magnet. For only fifty cents, you can have this information, along with the library phone number, stuck right to the face of the fridge. Buy a pad of library sticky notes for the same price. Both items are available at the Circulation Desk.