Now that the holidays have moved past us, it is time to begin to focus on some or the exciting things that will be happening at the San Carlos library in 2012.

The monthly book sales continued to be active through the holidays and the January sale was a particularly busy one.  Thanks to all the volunteers who participate in these sales.  We could not do it without your help and support.  We also thank those of you who came and purchased books or other items at the sales.  If you are interested in participating in the book sales, please let us know.  We particularly need people in the afternoon to help close down the sale and put unsold books away.

I would also like to highlight the extensive number of programs, which the Friends sponsor and support for the community.

·         ARTIST OF THE MONTH –

If you have not looked in the community room you may not be aware there is a guest artist each month that shows his/her work. Come in and see the art and then take the time to vote on your favorite piece.  There is an Artist Reception from 12:00 to 2:00 pm on the third Saturday of each month, which is a good time to meet the artist and to view their artwork. The April art display will be a joint effort between the Garden Club and local artists.  It is really a beautiful display.

·         OASIS –

The Friends coordinate with OASIS to bring interesting programs to the library.  There is a sign up sheet at the front desk.  This will assist us in knowing how many people are coming.  These are always interesting programs which fill up quickly, so sign up and come early.

·         SAN CARLOS FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS -

Each month there is a special program presented by a local author or community member.  These guests bring us a unique perspective on topics in which they have a special interest.   It is a nice way to meet some of our local scholars and scribes.

·         SPECIAL INTEREST PROGRAMS-

The San Carlos Friends of the Library also support many of the special programs available to the library’s patrons.  They include Yoga and Meditation classes for youth and adults, theater sized screen movies and Wii gaming, computer access, Essay Contests, the Summer Reading Program, and Entertainers.  SCFOL members can rent the latest published books from national Best-Seller lists.  Come, join our monthly book club!

As you can see there is a lot going on at your library.  Thanks goes to the librarians and volunteers who bring these programs to us and make our library a busy and interesting place.  We love the support that this community gives to the San Carlos Library, and are always looking for more volunteers and Friends of the Library members.  Memberships are reasonably priced and start at $5.00.  Our numbers help to reinforce with the City Council, our ongoing need for the services that your library offers.  I’m looking forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming events.

Judy Williams

SCFOL, President

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  Born and raised in Arizona, I moved to San Diego over twenty years ago.  Following graduation from the University of Arizona, I spent the early years of marriage raising a family.  We have two adult children, one of whom lives here in San Diego and the other in Michigan.

When I decided to enter the work force, my career began as the Executive Director of a new social service program working with runaway and homeless youth.  This position gave me valuable training in operating and managing social service programs including grant writing, budget management and community education.  Prior to moving to San Diego I was hired as the Marketing Director of a Psychiatric Hospital in Tucson and from there was offered a promotion at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Chula Vista as their Assistant Administrator.  Prior to retiring, I held the position of Vice President of Prevention and Early Intervention programs at the Vista Hill Foundation.

I have found retirement to be very rewarding as it offers me time to explore new adventures and to give back to the community in many ways.  Until recently, I was a senior volunteer at Grossmont College’s Child Development Center.  I enjoyed sharing my love of reading with young children just learning the joy of stories and books.  This led me to the library system which I find so important and valuable to all ages in our community.

I am fortunate to have a wonderful and supportive husband, Mike Lugo, who encourages me to stay busy and active.  At this time he is on his own adventure in Seoul, Korea where he is working for a large architectural firm helping to develop their International Architectural Specification.

I hope everyone in our community will join me in supporting the SCFOL through membership in the Friends of the Library, and volunteering at the library.  It will be my pleasure to serve the community and library as the new SCFOL President.

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With the exception of the position of Chairman/President, all other chairpersons have agreed to continue on in their present positions.  Below, you will find a short biography of Judy Williams, who has graciously agreed to join the board in the position of President.  Her administrative experience and personal interests well suit her for this assignment. She has been attending SCFOL Board meetings during the past year and has become acquainted  with the needs of our branch library.   Please help us welcome her in September.

Born and raised in Arizona, I moved to San Diego over twenty years ago.  Following graduation from the University of Arizona, I spent the early years of marriage raising a family.  We have two adult children, one of whom lives here in San Diego and the other in Michigan.

When I decided to enter the work force, my career began as the Executive Director of a new social service program working with runaway and homeless youth.  This position gave me valuable training in operating and managing social service programs including grant writing, budget management and community education.  Prior to moving to San Diego I was hired as the Marketing Director of a Psychiatric Hospital in Tucson and from there was offered a promotion at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Chula Vista as their Assistant Administrator.  Prior to retiring, I held the position of Vice President of Prevention and Early Intervention programs at the Vista Hill Foundation.

I have found retirement to be very rewarding as it offers me time to explore new adventures and to give back to the community in many ways.  Until recently, I was a senior volunteer at Grossmont College’s Child Development Center.  I enjoyed sharing my love of reading with young children just learning the joy of stories and books.  This led me to the library system which I find so important and valuable to all ages in our community.

I am fortunate to have a wonderful and supportive husband, Mike Lugo, who encourages me to stay busy and active.  At this time he is on his own adventure in Seoul, Korea where he is working for a large architectural firm helping to develop their International Architectural Specification.

I hope everyone in our community will join me in supporting the SCFOL through membership in the Friends of the Library, and volunteering at the library.  It will be my pleasure to serve the community and library as the new SCFOL President in September, 2011.

Click here to find out how you can help!

Our library will NOT have its hours reduced to two days a week, thanks to all of you who called and emailed our Council members. They would not have changed the Mayor’s recommendation without so many of you getting involved. The city’s financial resources will not improve for some time, so it’s important that we remain vigilant and keep the pressure on. The Friends of the Library Board has always relied on your support and we continue to count on it.

One of the best ways to support your library is to renew your membership in our Friends of the Library group. The price is quite reasonable, and there are so many benefits such as our summer reading program, our monthly speakers and Oasis programs, youth activities, artist displays and more. Our annual membership drive starts now and ends in December, though we’ll always welcome new members! Our honored Life Members can use the enclosed envelop to make a donation. Please renew today!

Revenue to support these programs and activities comes not only from your membership dues, but also from your support of our monthly used book sales. We have thousands of used books in very good condition donated by our local residents. We love seeing so many of you the first Saturday of the month! Your purchases enable us to keep our library up-to-date and stocked with materials.

Volunteering is another way to support our library. You can volunteer in the library or with our book sales, by sorting books, being a cashier or helping our customers find what they want. Our Board can use volunteers also. Currently we’re looking for a detail person to help process our rental books, a newsletter editor and ——-. This past year our volunteers have logged more than 7500 hours, the equivalent of 3.75 full-time staff members. As they say, “many hands make light work.”

My time as your Board president is coming to an end, and I want to thank you and the entire board for your support of the library during this time. I have been honored to serve and know that SCFOL will be in good hands with Judy Williams who has agreed to take on the position, starting with our Annual Meeting in September. Her administrative experience and cheerful personality will serve us well.

See you at the Library!

        Judy McCarty, President, SCFOL, 2010-2011

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     Once again we had wide participation in our annual Essay Contest and once again our student writers made us proud. We congratulate all the participants and winners, and send Nicolas Manzanares, Haley Van Baale and Zachary Maches on to the city-wide contest with our best wishes for success as they compete against other essayists at their grade level. Thanks to the schools and teachers who put in the extra time necessary for their students to participate and to their supportive parents.

We have a new Historian! Joan Hayes, San Carlos resident and retired librarian, has volunteered to fill this need.  We look forward to seeing our history in scrapbooks instead of dusty boxes.  Thanks, Joan!

We are pleased that so many of you have renewed your membership in the Friends this year, but we still don’t have everyone! We’ve enclosed a membership envelope in this issue and hope you’ll make use of it. Our honored Life Members can use the envelope to make a donation. Please renew your membership today.

Our book sale volunteers keep up their happy pace and have already logged in 1,112 hours over the last six months. In December, for example, 46 volunteers logged 179 hours. The money raised at the sales is used to help keep our library up-to-date and stocked with materials.

Thanks to Rita Glick’s leadership, several programs have been instituted, including a Book Club. Call or stop by the library to get the dates and book titles we’ll be discussing. Our monthly speakers, Oasis programs and artist displays also continue this spring. For up-to-date information keep checking this website.

See you at the Library!    Judy McCarty,

President, SCFOL

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        As we move into the new fall season, we have to feel buoyed by the fact that some good things are happening on the library scene. The July 28th groundbreaking for the new Main Library was an historic occasion. I hope you were able to attend. Here at the San Carlos branch, we now have our own full-time librarian, Rita Glick, who started in August. She was formerly the head librarian at the beautiful Serra branch library, and we feel lucky to have her. She will be very helpful as we move forward with Oasis and other new ideas.  SCFOL is pleased to join other branch libraries in providing these classes at the library FREE of charge to you.  We are offering two classes this fall.

     Eric Chamberlin, who served as Acting Manager in the interim between Jack Albrecht’s departure and Rita Glick’s arrival, deserves our thanks for a job well done. He learned his new job by doing it, and maintained our excellent standards of service.  Thank you, Eric!

      As stated in previous columns, San Carlos is blessed with dedicated volunteers. During the last fiscal year, approximately 5700 hours were contributed to the library by more than 100 volunteers, including Friends of the Library Board members.  We are pleased to announce that four of our San Carlos volunteers will be honored for outstanding service this past year by the Friends of the San Diego Library during their annual meeting September 11.  They are: Franz Guepin, Roberta Irwin, Sara Nulf and Evelyn Roddenberry. The Board is grateful for their commitment to the library. Many hands make light work, but it takes all of us to make San Carlos the outstanding branch it is. 

     The annual meeting of the general membership of  SCFOL will take place at the beginning of the September 15th  Board Meeting. At this time, the candidates for the 2010-2011 SCFOL Board will be presented to the general membership for their approval.    We still have need for someone to chair our Oasis program (minimal time), a new President (moderate time), a Newsletter Editor who will work with Publicity Chair, Sue Hotz, and a scrap booker who would like to be our historian (do on your own time-whenever).  Committee positions are also available.  Don’t be shy; you’ll love it and we’ll love you! Contact me at jhmccarty@cox.net or 619-287-7892.   Your show of community support for your library is crucial if it is to endure and sever you—the public.                       

                                       Judy McCarty

                                       President, SCFOL 

Click here to find out how you can help!