The original version of this column said that we hoped to be able to move in and open the doors of our new library some time in May.  An unexpected, and apparently inevitable, construction delay has occurred and now our opening date will take place in June.  You can guess how exciting the reality of a beautiful, well-designed library is to us, after months of imagining it, thinking about it, making plans for it.  We will have a grand opening for the public in June and we are inviting the community to come celebrate with us.

New officers for the FOL Board are elected at the annual membership meeting; look for the slate of nominations elsewhere in the newsletter.  The membership meeting typically takes place in May and since the library is closing briefly during that month, a site and date for the meeting has yet to be selected.  We will keep you informed via email and the web site.  Read more, click here. 

FOL members and County staff tour the new facility to view the progress.

In the next few weeks, construction on the new Atascadero 

Library will be completed.  New furnishings and equipment have been ordered, and our library staff is busily preparing for the move.  The past five years of fundraising are rapidly reaching their successful conclusion. 

It has been a privilege for me to work with so many talented and dedicated people on the fundraising effort.  In the beginning there were just six of us--Grenda Ernst, Liz Helgerson, Claudia Collier, Leigh Livick, Georgie

Arnold and me. 

Later, we were joined by Christina Lefevre Latner, Marguerite Pulley, Sue Sly, Anne Harris, Jeanne Robbins, Ruth Zachary, Katherine O'Clair, Jeannie Malik and Elizabeth Brousse.  Barbara Brogan assisted Marguerite with our financial records.  Linda Zirk led the effort to recognize our large donors on the donor tree that will grace our new library. 

Read more, click here.

National award winning instructor Rodney Ware performed a jazz medley with Community Star Angela Cisneros to the Broadway musical "Whoopee!"

Atascadero Friends of the Library applauds everyone who made our fifth annual Atascadero: Dancing with Our Stars an enormous success. The event, themed "Hats off to Broadway," raised over $81,000 for the new Atascadero Library and crowned Community Star Rolfe Nelson as the champion. His routine was choreographed by instructors Leigh Ormonde and Chris Harmon who joined Rolfe in his rockin' 80's east coast swing/jive dance performance.    

In second place were Mike and Peggy Zappas performing a Greek dance and in third place was John Donovan performing a polka, foxtrot, and swing medley with instructor Sharon Davis. Two of John's four daughters, Emily and Meredith, also participated in the dance.

"People's Choice" was awarded to Atascadero Police Chief Jerel Haley who brought down the house with his instructor/choreographer Cammie Velci performing a hula dance to Honey Bun from "South Pacific."  Read more, click here.

SLO County public libraries are celebrating National Library Week by helping to fight hunger in our community.  Food 4 Fines Week takes place April 15 - 19 at all county library branches.  Each branch will accept one non-perishable food item in place of any overdue fine or hold fee that totals $1 or less. Food will be donated to the Food Bank Coalition of SLO County.  There is no limit on how many overdue or hold fees that may be covered by food donations, however other fees such as those for lost or damaged items are not in included in the program.  Food donation bins will be set up at each library branch and all community members are encouraged to donate items.  The Food Bank's wish list includes canned or dry soups, canned vegetables and fruit, tuna and other canned meats, peanut butter, pasta, rice, beans and cereal.  They also have a need for disposable diapers.

Grenda Ernst introduces  Joe Laurenzi at DWOS

For some of us it will be an opportunity to revel in the planning, hard work and dedication we have put into creating anew building. For some, it will be a new destination to continue to use cherished library service. For some, it will mean that now that the major fundraising is over now that the new building is up and running and the library will flourish. If you build it, they will come.  Read more, click here.