SMALL LIBRARY, GIANT FEAT

Budget cuts, budget cuts, and more budget cuts. It seems that everywhere you turn, libraries, schools, and anything educational are suffering from the horrific budget deficit that plagues the nation. The six o’clock news talks about universities raising their tuition. The eleven o’clock news mentions teachers being fired to “solve” the budget deficit. The news at noon shows educational programs disappearing from the map. But a small town in Massachusetts is rising to the occasion.

Meet the town of Shutesbury, Massachusetts, with a population of about 2000 people. Somewhere in this town there is a 112 year old building, with no running water, no sitting areas, and no study spaces – Shutesbury library. As you might have guessed, the building needs some serious modernization, and although the state has agreed to cover 60% of the $3.5 million dollars needed to remodel this building, the town needs to cover the remaining 40% or $1.4 million. This amount is not easy to come by, but a group of passionate townspeople, are taking their fundraising plea viral.  

*”An incredibly cute YouTube video by filmmaker Lindsay Van Dyke recruited local people to demonstrate their love of their library. The short gets to the essence of what makes libraries so important: having a haven for ideas, inspiration, and creativity. The video’s gotten 35,000 hits in a little more than a month, inspiring nearly $40,000 in donations from donors across the country as well as Singapore, Australia, Canada, Kenya, and Europe.”

Love and creativity combined with the power of technology, are making possible to raise the funds to make of the Shutesbury Library a building that eager readers are proud to call their second home; a building that exemplifies passion, kindness, and the desire to rise above the circumstances.

*The article written by Zak Stone appeared on good.is on April 9th 2012. To read the complete article click “here“.

New Donations for Library Tea on June 3, 2012

 Our volunteer tea committee is working hard on securing delicious donations from local merchants for our Tea in the Garden Fundraiser for Literacy Services on June 3.  All proceeds from the event will go directly to underwriting literacy programs for adults and children at the Monrovia Public Library.

Some of the food donations we are looking forward to sampling include salads from Sena Restaurant and Old Town Bistro, tea sandwiches from Something Healthy, and assorted baked goodies from Mimi’s Cafe and Homeboy Bakery. 

Other volunteers are putting together beautiful gift baskets which will be auctioned off in a silent auction at the event.  So don’t forget your checkbook!

If you don’t have tickets for the tea yet, a limited number are still available; please call Kathy Knudsen, Literacy Coordinator, at 626-256-8272

Tea in the Garden: A Fundraiser for Literacy Services on June 3, 2012

We hope you will join us for the Monrovia Public Library’s upcoming Tea in the Garden:  A Fundraiser for Literacy Services.  The event will be held in the library (a metaphorical garden of learning!) on June 3, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and will feature tea, pastries, sandwiches, delicious desserts, music, and a silent auction.  Tickets are only $25 per person if purchased by May 25, and $35 thereafter.  If you would like to purchase tickets for yourself and/or friends, or sponsor and decorate a table for 8 guests, please contact either Kathy Knudsen, Literacy Coordinator, or Margo Tanenbaum, Volunteer Coordinator at 626-256-8272 or 626-256-8273 respectively.  We also welcome contributions to our silent auction; contact Kathy or Margo for details if you would like to donate goods or services to the auction.

 

TEA IN THE GARDEN

On Sunday, June 3rd, the Monrovia Public Library invites you to attend a wonderful Tea in the Garden celebration. Please join us for an afternoon tea with pastries, sandwiches, and desserts fit for an afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace. This event will include live music and a silent auction. Tickets are $25 per person and $35 after May 25th and they can be purchased at the literacy office.    

So mark you calendars for Sunday, June 3rd at 1:00 P.M; we promise an afternoon filled with laughs, delicious treats, and wonderful music here at the Monrovia Public Library. 

The proceeds of this event will benefit the Literacy Services, a program that trains volunteers to help adults learn to read and write. If you would like to host a table or get more information about the event, please contact (626)256-8272 

*We would also like to give special thanks to those who have donated items and food to make this event a wonderful one.

National Volunteer Week

 

It’s National Volunteer Week, and all of the staff at the Monrovia Library are delighted to thank the many individuals young and old who generously donate their time to staff the Friends bookstore, help sort and shelve books, tutor community members in reading and writing, mentor and assist community members as technology coaches, help out at events and with summer reading, and help with so many more important aspects of the library.  I’d like to send a special shout out to our fabulous teen volunteers, who volunteer through our highly successful TAB program. 

Our volunteers make an important difference in the lives of many of our patrons.  For example, one of our technology volunteers was able to help a young single mother file her taxes on a library computer.  We’d love to have you share any stories you have of how your volunteering at the library has helped others in the community.  Please leave a comment below! 

In a presidential proclamation, President Obama emphasized how volunteerism has profoundly shaped American history.  

“From the American Revolution and the Seneca Falls Convention to the everyday acts of compassion and purpose that move millions to make change in their communities, our Nation has always been at its best when individuals have come together to realize a common vision. As we continue to pursue progress, service and social innovation will play an essential role in achieving our highest ambitions — from a world-class education for every child to an economy built to last. During National Volunteer Week, we pay tribute to all who give of themselves to keep America strong, and we renew the spirit of service that has enriched our country for generations.” 

 

 

LOS ANGELES FOR FREE

Courtesy of Compfight.com

With this economy, more and more people find it hard to have fun in the Los Angeles Area. The entrance fee for many attractions and activities has skyrocketed ever the last few years and if you add that to the price of gasoline, well, staying at home watching an old movie might seem more appealing.

However, having no money is no excuse to not having fun especially when I introduce you some amazing options that are completely FREE! The list of things you can do for free in the Los Angeles Area is very long, and if you want to check out the complete list I invite you to visit the discoverlosangeles.com website where you can find tons of activities and fun spots throughout the LA Area for free and for a fee. For now, let me start by introducing the most obvious things to do for free in Los Angeles.

Known as the Gold State for the gold rush of 1848, now that nickname may be more appropriate to describe the shade the skin acquires after long hours spent swimming and tanning in one of the many beaches in California. The list of beaches in the Los Angeles area is endless: Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Cabrillo Beach, El Matador Beach… take you pick, pack your lunch, carpool with friends and voilá, you have a great free and fun getaway around the corner.

If you prefer the mountains over the beaches, then Los Angeles also has a great selection of hiking trails. Heart of Hollywood Park, Topanga State Park Trek, Griffith Park Trails, Will Rogers State Park Trek, and Santa Monica Mountains Waterfall Trek among many others, shape California’s landscape and believe me, these hiking trails will keep you fit without spending big bucks in indoor gyms. Aside from that, some trails, like the Griffith Park Trails, offer night-time hikes on certain days of the month where you can meet and socialize with people who share with you a passion for hiking.

Parks around LA are usually free and they offer a great getaway especially for families. Two parks stand out: Palisades Park and the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. As one of the city’s oldest parks, Palisades Park offers spectacular views of the ocean; jogging and biking trails overlook the ocean while dozens of palm trees add up to the rest of the landscape  providing a peaceful and restful setting. On the other hand, the Santa Fe Dam offers a five-acre chlorinated beach, a water-play area, bicycle, walking and equestrian trails, and large picnic areas making this park a jewel in a great city.

Farmers markets are famous throughout Los Angeles; you can find one usually near your town on any day of the week. Here in Monrovia, we have a beautiful Farmers market on Fridays. The Hollywood Hills have another market with spectacular views of the entire city on Thursdays. Pershing Square has its own farmers market on Wednesdays while the one at Americana at Brand in Glendale is classy yet fun. Perhaps the most famous farmers market is the Los Angeles Farmers Market on Third and Fairfax where you can find fresh food and original artifacts every single day of the year.

If you want a little piece of the world without leaving California, then there is no better city to be in than LA.   Little Tokyo, China Town, even Little Ethiopia are all small communities nestled in the heart of LA. At Olvera Street you can find a piece of Mexico with Mariachis and traditional Mexican Food and most of these little towns are accessible by the Los Angeles Metro Gold Line which is even better since you can save a good amount of money in gas.

Getty Center and Getty Villa are two of my favorite museums IN THE WORLD! And the best part is that they are completely free. The Getty Center surrounds guests with breathtaking views of the city and its art collection contain pieces from around the world. Getty Villa is dedicated to the ancient European cultures, something that can be seen even in its beautiful Roman architecture. The California Science Center, on the other hand, is a great place where you can learn about human innovation and inventions through hands-on experience.

Some of the most amazing things you can do for free are sometimes things you might think cost hundreds of dollars. Sahaja Yoga Meditation Center offers weekly meditation classes in three languages for FREE in Sherman Oaks while Pasadena’s Roving Archers provides free instructional arching programs to people of all ages every Saturday morning from 8:30 through noon. Now, if you are inseparable from your dog, then you can visit one of nine dog parks in LA where your pet can run unleashed while you socialize with other dog lovers.

Finally, one more thing you might want to consider is being part of a television audience; LA is the entertainment capital of the world and its many studios attest to it. The Price is Right, AFV, American Idol, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, The Tonight Show, and many other TV shows are all recorded here in LA with live audiences and producers need to keep the studios looking full which is why tickets for these shows are completely free!

As you can see there is no shortage of things to do for free in Los Angeles; as I told you before the list is long so research the 100 Free Things to Do list in the Discover Los Angeles website where you will find the complete information for the places I listed above. I am sure you will find something that will suit the entire family.

Celebrate World Read Aloud Day

Did you know that today is World Read Aloud Day?  

Worldwide at least 793 million people remain illiterate.

Imagine a world where everyone can read…

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.

Read aloud to someone today to celebrate!

For more on this movement, check out LitWorld’s website!