Patron Free Week

This is another reminder that the San Marino Public Library will close from Sunday, August 29 through Monday, September 6 for our annual "Patron Free Week". During this week, the library staff dons their grubbies and tackles the tough cleaning that can't be done during the rest of the year. Librarians comb the collection to pick out old books that no one checks out any more. Clerks and pages wash, clean out, and move items that are way overdue for a good scrubbing. We welcome our public back on Tuesday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m., ready for the new school year and looking much improved after an intense week of work.

A New Library Website

The public library has debuted its much anticipated new website. This lighter, brighter site updates the previous one, which was designed way back in 1998. Our new site was designed using modern web building techniques resulting in faster downloading times. Easier navigation is made possible by providing access to all of the sites content right from the opening page. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the address; you can still find us at http://sanmarinopl.org. Help us continue to improve the site by emailing us your comments.

September 11th: Celebrating Freedom, Democracy and Patriotism

You are invited to help us mark Saturday, September 11th as a day of celebrating freedom, democracy and patriotism at the one public institution that embodies these very ideas – your public library. Take this time to register to vote or update your voter information; the library has all of the proper forms or can help you register online. There will be patriotic coloring and craft activities available for children of all ages throughout the day. When you come in and sign up for a library card on this day you will receive a coupon for a free video/DVD rental from the library’s collection. This all-day celebration will culminate with a special screening of the Frank Kapra masterpiece, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring Jimmy Stewart at 2 p.m.

A Brave New Science Fiction Section

Many patrons who visit our library may not be aware that there is a section that we set aside for books of science fiction and fantasy. Currently, this area is at the tail end of the Fiction section, set back in a corner on the eastern wall. It is secluded in more ways than one. Some of the books there now date back to the early 1960’s!

All that will change during our “Patron Free Week”. Throughout the summer, we have been buying new science fiction books and making certain that we have solid copies of the classics. The crusty old ones, in which the world of tomorrow now appears distinctly retro, are being retired.

While we are closed to the public, we will move the Science Fiction and Fantasy section to where the beginning of the regular Fiction section is now, on the wall next to the drinking fountain.

If you love the world of science fiction and fantasy literature, check out our new compact, current collection when it debuts on September 7.