Among Friends Friends of the San Carlos Library – www.scfol.org

Winter

2014

l

Two More Reasons to Love the Children's Room By Michelle Loomis

Youth Services Librarian

If you haven’t visited the

Children’s Room recently,

you’re in for a surprise. We are

now home to two custom-

designed, interactive learning

play spaces that will engage

children's sense of touch,

hearing and sight, as well as

their minds. Burgeon Group

Design Studio has just

completed the installation of

both pieces, and they are now

available for the public to come

and enjoy. Learn more about the

importance of play in learning

here, on Burgeon Group’s

website:

http://www.burgeongroup.com/a

bout-us.html.

At the entrance to the room,

visitors will find a colorful

California wildflower-themed

wall mural with a variety of

Contents: Profile of Youth Services Preview Evening 4 Librarian Michelle Loomis 2 Grand Re-Opening 4 Book Review 3 President's Message 6

features to explore.

Create words with the

“wordmaker,” use the height-

measuring tool, or turn the

wheel to see the visible gears

move. There are so many fun

facets to this mural that it’s

hard to tell which will be the

most popular.

If you’re able to peel yourself

away from the mural, venture

farther into the Children’s

Room to find another

surprise: a bright orange

tractor with engraved nursery

rhymes, games, magnets,

mirrors, and not just one, but

two steering wheels!

To accompany the tractor,

children may visit the

magnetic farm play area just

a few steps away.

We are thrilled to make these

spectacular new pieces

available to the public, and

we are especially thankful to

the Friends of the Library for

so generously funding these

additions. We hope these

pieces will become a part of

our young visitors’ treasured

memories, and that they will

look forward to discovering

something new on each visit.

Contact Michelle Loomis at:

loomis@smcl.org

Michelle Loomis and daughter

Hana enjoy the Children's

Room.

Children love to try the bright

orange tractor with two steering

wheels.

Explore the California

wildflower mural. Interactive playspaces copyright: Burgeon

Group

PAGE 2 AMONG FRIENDS WINTER 2014

Staff Profile: Youth Services Librarian, Michelle Loomis

By Jacqueline Carter

Walker

The programs and activities

that the San Carlos Library

offer to children today are

remarkable and vital. Under

the leadership of Michelle

Loomis, our library's

program for children

includes offerings from

puppet shows to song fests,

"Pajama Story Times" and

"Cooking Fun for Children."

As a child, my little country

library had a summer

program geared to how

many books you could read

during your vacation. My

older sister read every book

on mythology that the

library had, and she received

a congratulations certificate,

but there were no discus-

sions, just numbers.

At the San Carlos Library,

the more varied program

includes a program featuring

reading to a therapy dog

called "Paws for Tales." The

promotion notes that reading

to a dog builds a child’s

confidence and reading

skills.

According to Michelle, “As

the children’s librarian at

San Carlos Library, I’ve

learned that the library

means something different

to each of the children and

families in our community.

For some, it is a place to

discover exciting new

authors, do research for

school reports, learn how to

take care of that new pet rat,

or meet with a tutor after

school. For others, it is a

place to do arts and crafts, see

a fun performance, participate

in a story time, or take chess

lessons.

“Of course, I can’t forget

those who come in just to say

hello, to see what’s new in the

library, learn what events we

might have happening that

day, or spend some quiet time

curled up with a good book.”

Asked to describe her work

with the San Carlos Library,

Michelle says, “Given the

diversity of our activities, it’s

hard to define just what the

library is…and this is one of

the most exciting parts of my

job! Working closely with

children and parents, I have a

front row seat to their needs,

hopes and desires, and have

the freedom to create the

programs that will give them

what they want.”

She adds, “Right now, we are

working especially hard to meet

the developmental needs of the

youngest members of our

community, not only through

our baby and toddler story

times, but through hands-on

learning opportunities such as

our 'Little Chefs Cooking

Program' for toddlers and their

caregivers, baby/parent yoga,

and baby sign language classes.

“All in all, the Children’s

Department is a place for fun,

learning, socializing and

exploring. I am so lucky to be a

children’s librarian, with

endless opportunities for

creative planning, a supportive

community, and a fantastic new

Children’s Room, to boot. I

look forward to the years of fun

to come!”

Michelle prepared for her

profession by earning a MLIS

(Library Information Science)

degree from San Jose State

University, as well as a

bachelor’s degree in sociology

from University of California,

Berkeley and a master’s degree

in sociology and education

from Teachers' College of

Columbia University.

A California native, she and her

husband, Damon, have two

children: Isaac, age 4, and

Hana, age 1.

If you have not visited our

Children’s Room lately, drop

in. It will put a smile on your

face to see all of the books in

colorful and enticing

surroundings.

Youth Services Librarian

Michelle Loomis

PAGE 3 Among Friends WINTER 2014

to live: making the toughest of

decisions for the greater good

of the family. But in doing so,

the ramifications of those

choices plays out for all

people who are touched by

those decisions: the brother,

the sister, the father, the

adopted family, the next

generation.

The life depicted in

Afghanistan seems so hard for

me to grasp as a person living

in the USA. The war years—

BOOK REVIEWS

Deb Kramer

Two Books for Winter Reading

Curling up with a good book

makes the evenings go faster

during long winter nights. Here

are two I recommend:

1. And the Mountains Echoed

by Khaled Hosseini

This book was a tremendous

work. I continue to love Mr.

Hosseini's writing style and the

way in which he weaves a

story. The characters are well

developed, and their

interrelationships are well

constructed. The story is heart-

wrenching about the choices

people have to make as they try

off and on, the harsh living

environments, the lack of

education for girls and boys,

the challenges of being born

female. So many difficult life

situations all rolled into one

incredible story of

perseverance and hope. A

book well-worth reading.

2. The Last Man by Vince

Flynn

Sadly, this is the last book by

Vince Flynn, who died from

cancer in 2013. I really

enjoyed reading his Mitch

Rapp series, and this book

was equally enjoyable. The

main character has had a

tough life as a secret

government agent, living in

the shadows, and trying to

have a normal life with a

family and friends, only to

have it wrested away from

him.

In this story, we see the main

character continue in his

brazen ways with the other

main characters he's been

working with: the director of

the CIA and his buddies from

other clandestine operations.

Despite his attempt to find

the missing former CIA

operative, he knows

something is fishy, and gets

to the bottom of the story

through his incredible

awareness and intuition as a

spy. Lots of death and

destruction follow Mitch

Rapp, but in the end, he gets

his man. A quick and

enjoyable read for those that

enjoy thrillers and spy

novels.

Deb Kramer

PAGE 4 AMONG FRIENDS WINTER 2014

GRAND RE-OPENING BRINGS HAPPY CROWDS

You can help support our

fundraising in an easy & effortless

way!

Pick up a S.H.A.R.E.S. Card at the

San Carlos Library Front Desk.

Then, simply present the

card when purchasing groceries at

Lucky Supermarkets.

Lucky will donate 3 per cent (3%)

of the sale to the Friends of the San

Carlos Library, which will be used

to support the programs and

services the Friends of the Library

provide to the community.

On October 3 or 10, join Tom

Davids, former San Carlos

Mayor and Friends of the

Library volunteer, for a walk

through San Carlos, recalling our past and considering our

future. You'll discover such things about San Carlos as:

• What is the Wheeler Plaza Project?

• Learn about the housing proposal along CalTrain tracks.

• Get a history of restaurants downtown.

• Where were the airfield and speedway originally?

• The East San Carlos Ave. Project.

• Why is Home Depot where it is?

• What’s happening with PAMF?

• and much more…

Walking History Tour

San Carlos

Hosted by: Tom Davids, former San Carlos Mayor,

Friends of the Library Volunteer

Walks Scheduled on: Wednesday, Oct. 3 – 6-8 pm, or

Wednesday, Oct. 10 –6-8 pm

Cost: No fee.

Group Limit: Walking groups will be limited to 15 adults. Children

welcome.

Distance: Distance is approximately 2 miles.

Gather at: Meet in front of the library.

Register: Register by calling Rhea Bradley at the library - 650-

591-0341 or e-mail bradley@smcl.org

Sponsored by the San Carlos Library

Friends of the Library Supports Hot Harvest Nights

By stopping by the booth at the Hot Harvest Nights

Festival, San Carlos residents buying fruits and

vegetables on August 30 learned what the Friends

of the Library do to support the library as well as be

updated on the status of the library refurbishing

project.

Pictured: Clarissa Owenby, FOL vice-president;

and Karen Clapper, chairperson of the San Carlos

Library Remodel Committee; Jan Smith, FOL

president , also participated.

PREVIEW OFFERS MEMBERS FIRST GLIMPSE OF NEW FACILITIES

Night

Left top: Robert

Esparza, Alyce

Bishop, Alison Day

Right top: Amy

Schwimmer, Claire

Earley, Rita

Hubner

Bottom left: Joan &

Tony Farndale.

Next: Ron Collins,

Donna Becht, Joyce

Strauss

Next: Chet Moore

& Jack Clarke

Right bottom: Taru

Bhatia; Emi Yaminishi

Cutting the ribbon to open the

newly renovated San Carlos

Library are: Jan Smith, Karen

Clapper, Bob Grassilli, Ron

Collins, and Chet Mulawka

Banner

Welcoming

the Library

back stretched

across Laurel

Street.

PAGE 5 AMONG FRIENDS WINTER 2014

PAGE 6 AMONG FRIENDS WINTER 2014

So much has transpired

since our last newsletter, the

question is where to begin.

The big happening, of

course, was the Library

reopening following the

six-month renovation. It

isn’t that we didn’t find the

temporary library upstairs

cozy, sunny, and friendly,

with our usual outstanding

staff on hand. However,

there’s nothing like “being

back home” with not only

fresh paint and new carpets,

but also fresh, new ideas. A

big thanks to the staff who

persevered in getting boxes

unpacked and books,

supplies, and furniture put

into new, functional

locations. (Even the county

library executive staff

pitched in to help.)

Within the newsletter you’ll

find pictures of the Grand

Re-Opening and of the

Member Pre-view Night. Member Pre-View Night

was special in that the over

100 members and

volunteers who attended

were given private tours of

the “new” library by Chet

Mulawka, branch manager.

The evening provided an

excellent opportunity for

members and volunteers to

socialize and re-connect in

our new, friendly

atmosphere.

In the library, you will

notice that additions are

The President’s Message

continuing to be made to

complete the next phase.

Read Michelle Loomis’

article about the Children’s

Room—and better yet—

“pop in” to see the

impressive, interactive sites

firsthand.

Moving on to December: If

you missed the Holiday

Open House, you truly

missed-out. Santa and his

helpers were present in their

“element.” The children

enjoyed giving their wishes

to Santa, who in turn gave

the children candy canes,

while parents had the

opportunity to snap special

photos. Throughout the day,

refreshments were provided

by the Friends.

In January: The New Year

was celebrated in

conjunction with the San

Carlos “Week of the

Family.” The Red Panda

Acrobats gave two

performances, which were

exceptionally well-attended

and applauded.

How were these many

wonderful changes and

By Jan Smith, President

events made possible? By

YOU! Without the continuing

efforts of the members,

volunteers, and the Board of

the Friends of the Library none

of this would have been

possible. I salute each of you!

With special thanks,

Jan

Jan Smith, President

Yes, Friends of the

San Carlos Library

has a New Logo.

Our Logo was

designed by artistically

talented Robert

Esparza, a member of

the Library staff.

We hope you like it!

PAGE 7 AMONG FRIENDS WINTER 2014

.

by Clarissa Owenby

Membership Form Current period runs from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

To become a “FRIEND”, please enclose your payment in an envelope and return with this form to: Friends of the Library; 610 Elm Street; San Carlos, CA 94070 (or drop off at the front desk at the library). Also secure payment with your credit card may be made at www.scfol.org.

Friends of the San Carlos Library Membership Dues:

All contributions are tax deductible. ___New Member ___Renewal

____Individual ($15.00) ___Senior ($10.00)___Family ($30.00) ___Business ($45.00)

Additional Donation $____________ Please print: Name:___________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________________

Email:________________________________________

I would like to receive the newsletter by email: _______

Making Holiday Memories at the Library--Christmas Open House

Photos, left to right:

Santa and Mrs.

Clause were

assisted by

wonderful "Elves."

Laurie Seidler is

shown at the

Friends Third

Sunday Book Sale.

Holiday Concert Adam Miller, shown at the

Holiday Concert,

Wednesday, December 11, is

a premier auto-harpist as

well as an accomplished

folklorist, historian,

musicologist and song-

collector, Mr. Miller also

plays acoustic guitar to

accompany his rich baritone

voice.

PAGE 8 AMONG FRIENDS WINTER 2014

Among Friends

FRIENDS OF THE

SAN CARLOS

LIBRARY

610 ELM STREET

SAN CARLOS, CA

94070

FRIENDS OF THE SAN

CARLOS LIBRARY

OFFICERS 2013-2014

PRESIDENT

JAN SMITH

VICE PRESIDENT

CLARISSA OWENBY

SECRETARY

NANCY LAXTON-

HIGHTON

TREASURER

TARU BHATIA

EDITOR

TOMMYE HUTTO

FRIENDS OF THE

SAN CARLOS

LIBRARY

610 ELM STREET

SAN CARLOS, CA 94070

Paste stamp here.

Walking the Filoli Trails

Tom Davids, local hike leader extraordinaire (pictured on the left),

recently led Friends' volunteers on a special walk on Filoli trails. It was

a fun and informative time! Tom is also a Friends' volunteer; he puts out

all the "Third Sunday Book Sale" A-frames each month.