Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library 

Winter 2013

     Margaret Byrne and Elizabeth Krauss, the two friendly, intelligent  women who operate the Friends Bookstore's monthly Silent Auction, share a love of books and a desire that a greater number of quality vintage books be donated in good condition.

While appreciative of the volumes passed along to them for research by the volunteers who sort donations, they bemoan classics ruined by careless storage-sometimes unprotected in garages--but are grateful for occasional treasures received and for faithful auction bidders.

     Both women are widows, older than 70 years, and are voracious readers.They share a love of mysteries and history, with Margaret including a variety of comedy, adventure, anthropology and archaeology books. Elizabeth's other favorite is mythology. She also is venturing on the internet for free French lessons.

     Margaret was born in Pasadena and received her first library card from the Alhambra Library when she was 4 years old. She is a UCLA graduate with a bachelor's degree in business and a master's in archaeology. She worked as a corporate accountant until 1972, when she started a painting contracting business. It flourished and she sold it a decade later, beginning a third career as a volunteer.  She first served as a docent at the Southwest Museum and currently is a docent at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and a volunteer in the arboretum's library.  Additionally, she is a volunteer at the Pasadena Museum of History, listing and pricing used books in its archives. This is a lady who is truly devoted to libraries!

     Elizabeth, born in London, England, was evacuated during World War II to the Midlands, and came to the United States in 1949 to simultaneously work and attend college. She holds bachelor and master degrees from Columbia University.  She taught in New York City elementary schools for four years before moving to California and teaching high school English and remedial reading for 21 years while raising two sons.  For many years she concurrently ran her own antiques and collectibles shop specializing in British commemoratives and books.  She closed it in 2011 "when the recession turned it into an overly expensive hobby" and generously donated hundreds of books to the Friends Bookstore. 

 

Library Book Group
Invigorates Members

 

     Book groups are alive and well in South Pasadena!  While many groups are founded by friends, the book group at the South Pasadena Public Library started as book lovers and ended up as friends. Book group members look forward to seeing each other, typically on the last Tuesday of the month. The book group is comprised of men and women of all adult age ranges who enjoy spirited discussions of both fiction and non-fiction books.

     "A reader's appreciation of books is magnified when you share your perspective on a book with others. It deepens your understanding and involvement in the book as you are called to consider aspects of the book that you had not thought about before," says Adult Services Librarian Paula Knop. As a facilitator, Knop starts the discussion with an author interview followed by group conversation including interesting observations and thoughtful perspectives for an hour.

     Many of the books read by this group are unforgettable including The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot in which a dying woman has her cells used by the medical research community without her family's knowledge. These cells are still alive today, aiding research on many diseases. Though her cells generated millions of dollars, Henrietta is buried in an unmarked grave and her poor, Southern family can't afford health care. Discussions about this book and many others are lively and thought-provoking to book group members.

     Upcoming titles for the 2013 reading list include The Submission by Amy Waldman, Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks and Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly. For a complete list of books and dates, click here.

     Once books are used by the book group, they are re-purposed for general circulation and many titles are selected to create book group boxes, a ready-made book group kit with eight copies of a book title, recommended discussion questions and a canvas bag to carry books around.  The book group books are funded by the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library.  Many thanks.

 

By Paula Knop - Senior Librarian Adult Services

     Los Angeles has some great public libraries. With the ability to order anybook from any branch, all of the libraries can be pretty great. But South Pasadena, that tiny tree-lined enclave, has created the library we all wish we could have. Entirely self-contained, the budget for music and movies seems to be endless. New albums roll in every day, and the entire Criterion
Collection hovers on the shelves waiting for someone to spend three weeks with Nanook of the North. Aside from the intriguing choices, the lights are on seven days a week at South Pasadena Library, and it stays open until 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday - making it practically a late-night spot
by sleepy suburban standards.
-Sean J. O'Connell

     The Friends Bookstore will stage another of its free mammoth 25¢ book sales in the Community Room on the weekend of January 26-27.  The event will feature a great variety  of both used paperback and hardcover books and an array of audio and visual materials.

    An Author Night with Michael Patris and Steve Crise, two of the foremost chroniclers of the fascinating history of Mount Lowe, will be the centerpiece of the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library on January 31 at 7:00 p.m. At the beginning of the meeting the Friends will approve their new Board of Directors slate and their 2013 Budget. The public is invited to the lively event which will also include a presentation by the authors featuring a PowerPoint of captivating images from their latest book, Mount Lowe Then and Now. Click here for more information.

For the full schedule of Storytimes, Barks and Books and California Young Reader Medal activities, click here.

     Membership dollars to Friends of the Library are the backbone for all the special programs offered at the library:

• Author Nights, Film Screenings and more
  Thursday evening Author Nights, Film Screenings, Plays, and Concerts continue to draw hundreds of patrons to the library. In 2011, the Friends supported 138 adult programs and 359 children's programs. Among California's 182 public libraries, South Pasadena received the highest marks for checkouts, visits, and program attendance per capita! . 
• Children's and Teen Services
  2,700 children ages 5-17 participated in the 2012 Summer Reading Program and read more than 41,000 titles for a total of 1,318,173 minutes of reading! Fifty teen volunteers helped to administer the program and assisted the librarians with a variety of activities including a Stuffed Animal Sleepover, Wonderful Wednesdays, Grandparents and Books, and the always popular Storytimes. 
• Books, DVDs, and CD Music Collections The Friends provide critical annual funding for hundreds of books, DVDs, and CD music. In 2011, the Friends contributed to the purchase of 6,000 new book titles and hundreds of new DVDs and CDs.  

Without your help these programs would not be possible. If you have not renewed your membership or joined Friends of the Library, please do so now. Membership envelopes are at the library by the reference desk and upstairs outside the bookstore. 

 

                            Student/Senior $10             Family  $40            Gold         $100

                            Individual         $20             Bronze  $50            Platinum  $500

                            Sustaining        $30             Silver    $75            Life         $1000

 

     President: Kristen Dube'             
     Vice President/Chief Financial Officer:  Linda Long
     Vice President/Financial Officer/Endowments:
     Diana McGrail
     Recording Secretary: Ellen Torres
     Restoration Concerts/Financial Officer: Leann
     O'Neill
     Membership Chair: Diane Larson
     Endowments/Memorials: Ann Messana
     Bulk Mail/Printed Materials Chair: Rose Barron
     Hospitality Co-Chair: Alice Fong                                 
     Hospitality Co-Chair: Jane Schirmeister
     Hospitality Co-Chair: Shireen Chang          
     Newsletter Chair: Sharon Cockroft
     Program Chair: Scott Van Sant
     Bookstore Steering Committee Chair: Dorothy M. Cohen
 
APPOINTED CHAIRS

     Publicity-Yvonne Voisin
     Computer Records-Barbara Sato
     Assistant Finance Officer-Kristen Dube'

EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS

     Restoration Concert Com. Chairpersons: Kay Rosser,
     Kathy Folsom  Library Trustees Representative: Ann Penn
     Web Master: Roby Lawrence  City Librarian - Steve Fjeldsted  

 

Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library