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Pasadena Public Library System Newsletter 

November Issue No. 11

In This Issue
Closings
Book Club Banter
CARE to Volunteer?
Thanksgiving Cookbooks
Closings
closed sign

IN OBSERVANCE OF THANKSGIVING, THE LIBRARY LOCATIONS WILL CLOSE THE FOLLOWING DATES:

 

Central Library will be closed on Thursday, November 24 thru Sunday, November 27.

 

 Central Library will re-open 

Monday, November 28   
@ 10:00 a.m.

 

  Fairmont Branch will be closed on Thursday, November 24 thru Sunday, November 27.

 

Fairmont Branch will re-open  

Monday, November 28   

@ 2:00 p.m.

Book Club Banter

 book club banter

"Many people, other than the authors, contribute to the making of a book, from the first person who had the bright idea of alphabetic writing through the inventor of movable type to the lumberjacks who felled the trees that were pulped for its printing. It is not customary to acknowledge the trees themselves, though their commitment is total..."

--Forsyth & Rada--

 

 

November brings us many things to be thankful for - from the mercifully cooler weather to the start of the holiday "feasting season." Here at the Pasadena Public Library, we have TWO excellent book discussion groups that cover titles ranging from very serious to absolutely frivolous in nature. Come check out at least one of them and enjoy a lively discussion with interesting people - sometimes even with a small feast to go with it!

 

The Fairmont Branch Library's First Monday Book Club will be reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and will meet on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Fairmont Branch Library.

 

The Central Library's Tea-Time Mystery Book Club will be reading All Mortal Flesh by Julia Spencer-Fleming and will meet on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Central Library. A "feast" of coffee, tea and various other goodies will be provided.

 

Contact Bill Pierce (First Monday) at the Central Library 713-475-4990 or Lucy Turoff (Tea-Time) 713-475-4984 for more information regarding the book clubs.

Quick Links...  

 entrance

Greetings!

  

I'd like to take this opportunity to reintroduce myself as Pasadena's Interim Library Director. I previously served in this position a year ago, prior to Mayor Isbell appointing Kimberly Archer as our Acting Director. Kim has now taken a wonderful position close to her family in Washington State. We are thrilled for her and wish her every success. Her time as Acting Director has been exceptionally productive, with great strides made in reorganizing management and staff positions, updating and expanding policies that the library relies on for smooth operations, enhancing the scope of programs and community outreach...the list goes on and on. I'm confident she will bring the same level of professionalism and total commitment to her new responsibilities as she has shown here as Acting Director. Thank you for all you've contributed to the Pasadena Public Library both in your recent role as Acting Director and in your years of previous City service, Kim. We wish you all the best.

And since we're in a thankful frame of mind, it would be appropriate to thank you, the community, for the participation and support we've seen for the past Summer Reading Program, a center of attention during school break that was one of our most successful programs ever. As we move into the fall, our emphasis shifts to a focus on services that will meet the needs of patrons of all ages who are back in school, assistance for those who are pursuing job opportunities during these tough economic times, general information for the curious do-it-yourself fan, reading as a recreational pastime and more activities and outreach to the larger community, such as our October 15 Celebrando Our Heritage event.

We're thankful, too, for our volunteer helpers who have done so much over the years to make our library events and activities so successful. With staff levels down over the last few years, the assistance our volunteers provide helps us meet the needs of our patrons in a way we couldn't do without them. We'd like to acknowledge their selfless efforts with a big, "Thank you!"

Of course, the traditional season of thanks we're approaching is synonymous with family gatherings that center around a holiday meal. If you're stumped for something new to try out, or just want a different take on your favorite dish, this month's newsletter gives you a head start you'll appreciate. With cookbooks and recipes on the front burner this issue, you'll have all the holiday ideas you need to make your big meal a big deal.

Even in the challenging times we find today, we just need to look a little closer to discover those things we can be thankful for. For us at the Pasadena Public Library, it's being able to involve ourselves every day in helping others pursue personal enrichment, worthwhile recreational activities and an expansion of the best part of us--as individuals and the collective community.

Wayne Holt
Interim Library Director 
CARE to Volunteer?

  

CARE to Volunteer?  

To our volunteers CARE means commitment in serving, attitude for compassion, responsibility to social needs and enriching the community. This month we spotlight our volunteers and express our most sincere gratitude for their efforts as they CARE for the community they serve. In addition to reaching out to the community, there are several benefits from volunteering.  

For example...

 

Araceli Lopez
Arac
eli Lopez has assisted the library for two years, mostly working with the Youth department, and has many favorite moments while assisting during craft time. She volunteers to satisfy credits at her local high school while also learning new skills for future employment.   

 

  

Lillie Ocequenda 

Lillie Ocequenda joined the volunteer team just a few months ago. She assists with our adult programming and, at times, during our special community events as well. She enjoys being a part of something bigger than herself and having the opportunity to meet new people.

   

 

Sandra Mayfield-Gottlieb Sandra Mayfield-Gottlieb volunteers in our Friends of the Library Bookstore. She says she cherishes her time helping at the Library because it has given her the opportunity to meet so many special friends for life. She encourages all to "come make a difference in someone's life- it just might be your own!"

 

 

"Whatever their reasons for sharing their time, all of our volunteers leave feeling a sense of gratification from enriching their community, one helping hand at a time. Whether you're looking for a small or large project to help with or a short or long term volunteer opportunity, there is always a way to utilize your talents and help the Pasadena Public Library."

 

For more information on volunteer opportunities, please call our Central Library and ask for Cassie Loftin-Shepherd.

 

"It's your unlimited power to care and to love

that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life."

- Anthony Robbins
Thanksgiving Cookbooks


There is no better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to gather around the dinner table with lots of family and friends. Each year, Americans create the ultimate feast using old family secrets, new favorite recipes, and even a dash of celebrity chef experience.

 

The Pasadena Library System has a variety of cookbooks to help brighten your table this year with new ideas, or timeless classics. Click here to see some of the available materials.

 

Celebrity Chef Paula Deen is most known for her authentic Southern style cooking and her big TV personality. In Paula Deen Celebrates, Deen combines both with recipes for every holiday of the year. Her Thanksgiving recipes include: turducken, brown gravy, Southern cornbread dressing, baked sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar, stuffed cranberry sauce, and pumpkin cheesecake. In addition to these modern Thanksgiving classics, Deen provides recipes using the leftovers from the big day.

 

For Cajun Thanksgiving traditions, Ronni Lundy's The Festive Table is a great place to start. Cajun recipes include: roast pork with eggplant-rice dressing, potato salad, sweet potatoes with ginger-sorghum butter, and fig pies. The Festive Table also includes Thanksgiving recipes for vegetarians, including: Niya's nut loaf, mushroom gravy, savory paradise potatoes, and gala butternut pudding.

 

For a more diet-friendly menu check out Sandra Woodruff's Fat-Free Holiday Recipes. Although not all the recipes in this cookbook are completely fat-free, each recipe contains the nutritional information per serving to help the dieter plan accordingly. Recipes include: roast turkey, savory stuffing, gravy, waldorf salad, green bean casserole, and baked pumpkin custard.

 

Looking for something more traditional? The Book of Thanksgiving by Jessica Faust and Jacky Sach and Giving Thanks by Kathleen Curtin and Sandra L. Oliver both contain more traditional Thanksgiving recipes, including those from the Pilgrims. Both books also contain inspirational Thanksgiving stories and poems and even a more in-depth look at the history of the holiday.

 

Keeping with the traditional Thanksgiving recipes, Martha Stewart's DVD "Classic Thanksgiving" shares recipes that are sure to have the classic elegance Stewart is known for. In the DVD, Stewart demonstrates how to prepare turkey five ways, best stuffing recipes, favorite side dishes, and special desserts. Likewise, there are features including: table setting and decorating, kids' crafts, how to carve a turkey, platter presentation, and gravy tips.

 

Cookbooks are located in the 600 section of the library. Cooking DVDs are located in the 600 section of the DVD collection.