STARTING MARCH 20, 2010, due to city-wide budget cuts, the hours of operation of all San Diego Libraries are being reduced.  The city-wide library budget was reduced by $3.8 million.

The San Carlos Branch Library’s hours will be:  

Sundays & Mondays:  CLOSED

Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 12:30 - 8:00 pm

Thursdays & Fridays: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Saturdays: 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Check the San Diego Public Library’s website http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/ for “hours of operation” information for the Downtown and other Branch Libraries.

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Think you can write?  Have you always wanted to be a newsletter editor?  Now is your chance.  Our current San Carlos Friends of the Library newsletter editor would like to retire from this position by September 1, 2010.  If you are interested, please e-mail her at newsletter@sancarlosfriendsofthelibrary or drop her a note at the San Carlos Library.  Any age person is welcome to apply.  Think how great this would look on your resume.  Computer skills are a must.

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     Come join in the fun!  You will soon find a box in the Community Room of the San Carlos Library in which to place your vote for your favorite piece of art being displayed by that month’s featured SCFOL artist(s).  The painting or photograph chosen by the the greatest number of votes will be declared that month’s “PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD“.  It will then be displayed in the main library during the following month.  The artists will love your feedback, and we will all get to enjoy the art a little longer.  February is the first month for voting, and March will be the first month that the works will be displayed in the main library.

Remember that a portion of the sales of the artwork displayed in the library is donated to the SCFOL and supports the purchase of books, equipment and programs for the library. 

Out of space in your home?  We would like to encourage art patrons to consider purchasing a piece of our artists’ artwork and donating or loaning it for a period of time to be on display in the library, school, your place of work, a medical facility, nursing or retirement home , church, or any other place of your choosing.  This is a win-win for everyone.  The artist makes a sale, more of the public views their work, the library receives a donation, and you may get a tax deduction.  Just another way to volunteer! 

All of the artists and the San Carlos Friends of the Library thank you for your patronage.  Please come into the Community Room of the San Carlos Library and enjoy the beautiful artwork on display there!

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This summer, the San Carlos library, due to the generosity of the San Carlos Friends of the Library, acquired a theater sized movie screen, projector, and sound system.  The Youth Services Librarian, Eric Chamberlin began showing movies during the Summer Reading Program.  The movies were very well received, and the 3:00 pm program for youth has continued.   He has also added evening movies (5:45 pm)  to the schedule for the enjoyment of our adult and older teen patrons.  ALL MOVIES ARE FREE AND SHOWN IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM OF THE SAN CARLOS LIBRARY. 

Monday evening films start at 5:45 pm and are appropriate for adult and mature teen viewers.  Starting March 23, these will be shown at 5:45 pm on Tuesday evenings.

Starting  March 4th, Family Fun Films (PG/PG-13) will be shown at 3:00 pm on Thursday afternoons.

The March-April film schedule is as follows:

Monday March 1: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

Thursday March 4: The Time Machine (1960)

Monday March 8: I’m No Angel (1933)

Thursday March 11: Peter Pan (PG, 2003)

Monday March 15: We’re No Angels (PG-13, 1989)

Thursday March 18: Mystery Science  Theater 3000 (PG-13, 1996)

Tuesday March 23: Dead Poets Society (PG, 1989)

Thursday March 25: Atlantis the Lost Empire (PG, 2001)

Tuesday March 30: Papillion (PG, 1973)

Thursday April 1: Holes (PG, 2003)

Tuesday April 6: Casablanca (1942)

Thursday April 8: Brother Bear (G, 2003)

Tuesday April 13: Gigi (1958)

Thursday April 15: MEETING ROOM CLOSED

Tuesday April 20: An American in Paris (1951)

Thursday April 22: Finding Nemo (G, 2003)

Tuesday April 27: Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Thursday April 29: Inkheart (PG, 2008)

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Jack Albrecht, the head librarian at the San Carlos Branch library has been temporarily reassigned to the Scripps Ranch Branch library. Eric Chamberlin, our Youth Services Librarian has been temporarily assigned to be the acting head librarian at the San Carlos Branch.

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     Annually, the Friends of the Library, sponsor a “Writing for Literacy” essay contest.  Fourth, eighth, and tenth grade students from across San Diego are eligible to enter.  This year, mid-November was the deadline for entries.  The San Carlos award ceremony for local winners was held on January 13th, at the San Carlos Library.  Representatives of area schools, School Board Member Katherine Nakamura, City Council Member Marty Emerald’s representative Chris Pearson, Co-chair of the City-wide contest and San Carlos Friends of the Library life member Carleen Hemric, as well as parents, teachers, and students filled the San Carlos Library.  

      Chosen from 102 local school entries, our local area winners read their essays before a crowd of about 70.  They are: 4th graders Ben Kelly, Aaron Castillo  and Kalos Chu  from Benchley-Weinberger; Aya Nelson, Madeline Woods, and Grant Northcutt from Green Elementary School; 8th graders Alison Peifer-Hay, Jessica Zito and Phaedra Stewart from Pershing Middle School; Hayley Michelle Lekven from Magnolia Science Academy; and 10th grader Ann Tran from Patrick Henry High School.  The essays of those whose names appear in red were chosen to compete in the City-wide contest.  City wide winners at each grade level will each receive a $100 prize, and a grand prize winner will receive $500.  A grand prize is being awarded this year in memory of Jack and Carolyn Winer who were instrumental in the inauguration of this annual contest.

      The SCFOL would like to thank our contest judges, Dorothy Dougherty, Flora Hogins, Inez Jacobson, Joanne Prescott, Barbara Woodhall, Mary Anne Wormsted, Dan Yelvington, and especially Ann McDonald who not only judged, but also coordinated the entire contest for the San Carlos area.   A big Thank You also goes to the contestants’ parents, teachers, librarians, principals, and Jay Wilson, President of the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation.  We thank all of you for your support.

     The City-wide winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held at the Balboa Club in Balboa Park at 6:00 pm, on Thursday, April 1, 2010.  We wish the best to all of our area winners. 

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     Effective January, 2010, our Art Co-ordinator, Betsy Brown, will be turning over the reins of her position to our November, 2009 artist, Jen Bottoms.   We would like to thank Betsy for her hours of work organizing the artists’ shows for the San Carlos Library.  We will miss her expertise, and lightening speed follow-through.

     We welcome Jen and her experience as an artist.  She is a member of local and national art groups:  Woman’s Caucus for Art-National; Woman’s Caucus for Art-San Diego Chapter/Board Member/retreat & exhibitions committee; Foothills Art Association-Board member/Director; Inland Artists; Crest Artists; Lake Jenning Park Estates-Art Painters Founder & member; San Diego Pleinaire Society.  Her studio is currently located in Spring Valley at Art in the Alley, 9048 Rosedade, #2, Spring Valley, CA 91977.  She may be contacted at artists@sancarlosfriendsofthelibrary.org or by leaving a note for her at the library.  Welcome aboard, Jen!

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     First, we would like to remind everyone of the programs that are brought to you through the Volunteer work and Members of the San Carlos Friends of the Library, a non-profit chapter of the Friends of the San Diego Library.  The SCFOL:

1)  Is totally responsible for the Monthly Used Book Sales that occur on the first Saturday of every month.

2)  Underwrites the Youth Summer Reading Program at the San Carlos Library.

3)  Underwrite and judge the Annual Youth Essay Contest.

4)  Offer guest speakers on a variety of subjects on the 4th Wednesday of most months.

5)  Invite local artists to display and sell their art in the Community Room of the San Carlos Library.

6)  Support the Library staff and the San Carlos Library building.

7)  Produce a bi-monthly newsletter and maintain this website.

8)  Provide new edition rental books for its members that are then donated to the Library’s collection.

9)  Support all City wide Library activities including the “One Book, One San Diego” selection and the Annual Children’s Book Fair held in May of each year.  (There will be no Children’s Book Fair in 2010 due to lack of funding).

10)  Support the San Diego Library system through the “Mission Statement” of the Friends of the San Diego Library.

     This fiscal year, ending June 31, 2009, the San Carlos Friends of the Library, donated, through the San Diego Library Foundation, to the Library’s Matching Book, Programs and Equipment Funds, a total of $20,000.   Funds placed into these accounts are matched by the City of San Diego’s General Fund, up to a budged amount.  100% of the money placed into these funds is matched and used for library programs.

     Via our Matching Funds Accounts, the San Carlos Library purchased for our Community Room a movie projector, laptop, speakers and a theater sized movie screen for youth and other patron programs; the reserve book rack; and books.

     Through Direct Purchases, the FRIENDS spent an additional $10,625 purchasing a new white board and floor pillows for the Community Room; new window coverings for the entire library during the refurbishing; donated prizes for the Youth Writing Contest and Summer Reading Programs; bought the members’ rental books that are then donated to the Library’s collection; and purchased miscellaneous library equipment.

     The source of these funds is Membership dues, Monthly Used Book Sales, Monthly Art Sales, Members’ Book Rentals, Interest, Memorial/Estate, & other Donations.

     In addition, our member volunteers gave over 2700 hours of there time and talent to make your library even better.  THANK YOU to all of you who work so hard.

     We can always use more MEMBERS, and VOLUNTEERS especially for the book sales.  Membership fees are nominal, but help tremendously.  We are looking to double our membership this year.  If you have enjoyed any of the activities that the Friends provide, we urge you to join today.  Check out the Membership page for an application form and rates.  Volunteers may leave their name and phone # with the library staff for the SCFOL President or Vice President.  When considering a new piece of art for your home or office, check out the artists that have shown their works at our Library–and mention SCFOL. 

      Thank you for visiting our website and hope you continue to view us here for the latest updates on “What’s Happening” at the San Carlos Library. 

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From the Membership Chairperson:  If you haven’t been receiving e-mail reminders about events such as our monthly Used Book Sale or Speaker dates, it’s because we don’t have your correct e-mail address.  Kindly e-mail me at membership@sancarlosfriendsofthelibrary.org, and you’ll be added to our SCFOL Reminders group.

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