SAN JOSÉ - Mary Nacu moves into San José Public Library's Assistant Library Director position permanently this month, following a six-month period acting in that capacity. Her appointment comes at the end of a national search, which concluded that Nacu is best qualified to oversee day-to-day operations for the growing system (currently eighteen branches, plus the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library) in a period of severe economic challenges.

Nacu brings to the role her knowledge and experience of the City of San José library system, starting with her 1987 appointment as a youth services librarian, which followed her receipt of a master's degree in library science from San José State University. She became a branch manager in 2001; then moved up in 2003 to the role of division manager with responsibility for staff development, training and innovation for the department along with oversight of nine branches.

Nacu's demonstrated leadership of the library's extensive innovation initiatives and projects over several years give her a framework in which to craft a leaner operation that still holds true to the customer service principles formulated under her guidance:

• Customers first
• Teach customers
• Reinvent environments
• Enable staff

Nacu resides in San José along with her husband and two of her three children.

About San José Public Library

San José Public Library system (SJPL) is the largest public library system between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the West Coast in California, serving a culturally diverse population of approximately 1,007,000 in the nation's 10th largest city. Recipient of the prestigious national Library of the Year award and a Four-Star LJ Index Rating, SJPL is recognized across the country for its innovation and leadership in the field and is one of the busiest library systems nationwide, with an annual checkout rate of more than 15 million items through 18 currently operating locations.

Submitted by:

Lorraine Oback
Marketing Communications
San José Public Library

The San José Public Library is an Institutional Member of the California Library Association and supports our advocacy efforts. Additionally, SJPL's new Assistant Director, Mary Nacu, is an active member of CLA. Click here for more information about CLA membership.

The Center is still small, and we have had our share of growing pains as we work through all of the issues associated with bringing new partners with new perspectives (and in some cases a lack of understanding of what we already do) into "our" library world, integrating operation of the center with other library activities and programs, integrating fundraising for the Center with our other fundraising efforts, and identifying which programs and services are most needed by our local business community.

At the same time it has been very rewarding to see how the community, and particularly the business community, has responded. Apart from enabling the library to expand its services, the Center has also been a means of attracting new library supporters and donors who see (maybe for the first time) that the library is doing something that is directly relevant for them.

I have been wrestling with both how to work through the growing pains and capitalize on the opportunities that the Zerunyan Center presents, so I was excited to come across this Kiplinger article on how "Libraries Are Building Business Buzz" on Friday.

Apart from great ideas for services for business, it was interesting that the library examples in the article all seemed to be primarily publicly funded, albeit with support from donors. None of the business centers seemed to be the kind of comprehensive public/private partnership that we have envisioned...no wonder we are having growing pains!

Growing pains aside, I was pleased to see a national publication like Kiplinger's confirm that we are on the right track as we grow our services for business. In addition to the Zerunyan Center with its dedicated space, collection of business-related materials, and planned outreach programs we offer a variety of business-oreinted online databases; "quiet study" rooms that are used by local business people for small meetings; rent our larger conference and community rooms for use by businesses and business organizations as well as the non-profit community; Notary, scanning, copying and other services of interest to the business community; and are about to launch a new business networking website for our local community.

The article gave me renewed energy for tackling our Business Center issues and continuing to grow our business services...a shot in the arm at just the right time!

Submitted by:

Kathy Gould
Director, Palos Verdes Library District
Reposted from PVLD Director's Blog

The Palos Verdes Library District is an Institutional Member of CLA and supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.

The second letter your Representative in Congress needs to sign asks the House Appropriations Committee for $300 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the FY2011 Appropriations bill. The American Library Association's Washington Office has created a chart (pdf) indicating how much your state received for LSTA in FY2010 versus how much your state would receive if LSTA is funded at $300 million. For example, California received $16,971,056 in 2010 and would receive $25,796,264 if LSTA was funded at $300 million. LSTA is the only federal funding for public libraries.

If your representative is a Democrat please ask him/her contact Joseph Mais in Congressman Raul Grijalva's office (at 202-225-2435) to sign these two letters. If your member is a Republican please ask him/her to call Rachel Fenton in Congressman Vernon Ehlers' office (at 202-225-3831) to sign-on.

Furthermore, when you contact your member's office, please explain how important it is that both public libraries and school libraries receive this funding. Tell your member about the critical services your library provides and why it deserves full funding.

If you need to locate your members of Congress, please visit CLA's Capwiz Legislative Action Center and enter your zip code.

Fling yourself into Spring with the California Library Association's 2nd Annual Professional Development and Networking program series.

This year's Spring Fling programs include workshops, cultural and social events, as well as panel discussions. Events take place online in addition to eight cities, ranging from San Diego to Sacramento.

While attending CLA's Spring Fling programs you will meet new people, learn new skills, and spend time with colleagues and friends who share your interests. Visit the Spring Fling website to find the program that's right for you!

Discounts on registration are available for CLA members while further savings have been made for library students.

On behalf of CLA's staff and volunteers, we hope to see you at a Spring Fling program!

List of 2010 CLA Spring Fling Programs

March

• Betwixt, Befuddled and Be"Tween"

April

• The Internet Public Library: Opportunities for Participation
• Religion & Public Libraries: Do You Dewey 200?
• SCCTP Basic Serials Cataloging & Holding Workshops

May

• Best Practices for Successful Computer Literacy Workshops for Adult Spanish Speakers
• Angel Island Immigration Station Tour
• Baby, Preschool, Bilingual and Spanish Storytimes Showcase!
• Career Development Workshop: Embracing the Past, Celebrating the Future
• New Developments in Cataloging Practices

June

• Will LIS Graduate Students Accept Coursework in 3D Immersive Spaces?
• Taking Charge of Your Career: Resume Writing, Interview Skills, and Finding a Job that's Right for You

• setting the scene and decorating the library;
• programming ideas for children, teens, and adults, including storytimes, book discussions, games, crafts, environmental programming, and programming on a budget;
• offsite summer reading programs;
• teen volunteers; and
• planning your adult summer reading program.

The workshop is divided up by topic for ease of viewing, and powerpoint presentations and handouts are also available for download.

If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback on the videos, please email Natalie Cole at ncole@cla-net.org. For full information on the 2010 California Summer Reading Program, please visit http://www.cla-net.org/summer-reading.

The workshop took place on November 5, 2009, at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento, a branch of Yolo County Library. It was presented by CLA in partnership with the NorthNet Library System.

Thank you to the members of CLA's 2010 California Summer Reading Program steering committee for preparing and presenting our workshops, and to Infopeople for hosting the videos on their server.

The California Summer Reading Program is a project of the California Library Association, supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Submitted by:

Natalie Cole, PhD
Programs Director
California Library Association

Several booths will provide useful information of online library programs and services, as well as community resources, that include finding jobs, improving one's health and wellness, tracing a family's genealogy, grade- and subject-specific homework help for 3rd to 12th grade students, self-help law resources, small business assistance, self-paced language learning courses and test tutorials, how to invest money wisely, library volunteer and support opportunities, and more.

The festival highlight will be the nationally-touring Overdrive Digital Bookmobile. The 74-foot tractor-trailer has hand-on electronic devices. It instructs visitors how to download eBooks, audiobooks, music, and videos which are available free from the library web site.

For details, telephone the Sacramento Public Library at (916) 264-2920 or visit saclibrary.org

Submitted by:

Don Burns
Sacramento Public Library

The Sacramento Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.

After two years of planning and design, San Francisco Public Library is pleased to unveil its new Web site at sfpl.org.

The new site is intended to be more user friendly and inclusive; it provides a variety of formats to locate online information from SFPL. For example, the online catalog of materials, with a query box located in the upper right hand corner of the Web site, enables patrons to search for materials using either the classic catalog or the new Explore catalog which leverages Web 2.0 technology to offer more items related to a search.

"Among the major new enhancements to our Web site is the ability to offer a wealth of online resources and information to our diverse community, thanks to translated versions of web pages in Spanish and Chinese," said City Librarian Luis Herrera.

SFPL staff devoted time to studying the needs of its patrons and the development of Web 2.0 features and then worked with Desite Design, a San Francisco web development firm, to execute and deploy the new online presence.

The overall site offers a more modern display of information intended to keep library patrons and online visitors better informed about the variety of collections, programs, services and calendar of events provided by San Francisco Public Library.

New links enable all to obtain quicker access to information such as dynamic listings of events linked by branch or by series of interest. Links on each event page make it easier to share information from the calendar. Users also can learn about current highlights at the library through a series of rotating spotlights on the home page.

Online visitors can find information about the branches in the SFPL system by clicking to a dedicated page for each branch. The site also offers Library podcasts and videos and new photo gallery features. To enhance the user experience, the site is programmed with print settings that avoid wasting paper and the ability to change text size for readability.

The children's section of sfpl.org was also redesigned. The colorful and engaging kid's site includes a cable car, a seal, Sutro Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge and of course the city's ever-present fog. Desite worked with illustrator Shawn Rosenberger to create a colorful and interactive area that is very distinct from the main site.

Submitted by:

Michelle Jeffers
Public Relations Officer
San Francisco Public Library

The San Francisco Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and helps supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.

The 6,440-square-foot facility will be open to students only during school hours. The library then opens to the public and is managed by county library personnel from 3:30 to 8:00 pm Monday through Thursday and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday. The branch will be closed to the public on Friday and Sunday.

The new branch includes ten public-access computers and four catalog computers. Special areas have been set aside for children and for young adults. The opening day collection comprises some 12,000 items, a number enhanced by contributions of books and other materials from other branches in the county system.

The branch also features two special-purpose rooms, one for textbooks only and the other for a Friends of the Library used bookstore.

The library's décor has been chosen with care to reflect the name and unique heritage of the facility. The children's area is dominated by an aircraft-themed fantasy illustration mural nearly 18 feet wide. The computer area features two large photographic murals that depict famous aircraft from the 1930s through the 1950s, including the P-38 Lightning, the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 Sabre Jet.

Several of the "READ" posters on branch walls feature other airplanes, including the Boeing P-26A Peashooter, which - like most of the other photographed planes in the branch - is part of the collection at the neighboring Planes of Fame Museum at Chino Airport. Museum vice president and general manager Bill Hamilton notes that the museum's P-26A is one of only two still in existence, with the other being housed at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.

"This new library is a highlight for the community in this planned development," notes Gary C. Ovitt, San Bernardino County Supervisor for the Fourth District, which includes Chino, and board chairman. "It brings public library convenience to residents of the area that otherwise would have to go miles away to our Central Avenue facility in the city's civic complex."

Supervisor Ovitt will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting, and will be joined by local dignitaries and library supporters, as well as a color guard from Cub Scout Pack 204. Light refreshments and special commemorative cookies will be provided while supplies last.

There will be a unique color airplane poster give-away for the youngsters. A total of six posters have been created as a series. Children 13 and under receive a free poster when they check out at least one book or other item. The first poster, of the Boeing P-26A, will be distributed during grand opening week. The remaining five posters (P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, Grumman Avenger and F-86 Sabre Jet) will be made available over the following five weeks.

The branch is located at 15850 Main St., just below Kimball Avenue, south of Chino Airport. The phone number for the branch is 909-606-8531.

Submitted by:

Greg Zerovnik, PhD
Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
San Bernardino County Library

The San Bernardino County Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.

"CLA and the entire library community congratulates the director and staff of this unique, wonderful and life-changing library," said CLA President Kim Bui-Burton.

The annual award, made by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) since 1994, recognizes institutions for outstanding social, educational, environmental, or economic contributions to their communities. The medals were presented Tuesday, February 23rd in a ceremony in Washington, DC.

Press release pertaining to the Braille Institute Library Services: http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/022310_braille.shtm

Library link:
http://www.brailleinstitute.org/library

FOLSOM, CA - On November 12, 2010, two of California's largest library associations will present Navigating the New, a premier continuing education and exhibition that will combine both Associations' annual event into one extravaganza.

The California Library Association (CLA) and the California School Library Association (CSLA) have formally announced this collaboration, bringing together the state's library community with a focus on both current and future trends.

By combining two Annual Conferences into one event, conference attendees will have the option to participate in a wide and impressive range of professional development workshops and networking events. Additionally, it is anticipated that the combination of each Association's Exhibition will nearly double the number of exhibitors on display at the Sacramento Convention Center.

The 2010 CLA & CSLA Conference and Exhibition will be open to members of the library community as well as the general public, with early-bird registration expected to begin in early August of 2010. Registration materials and a joint exhibitor and sponsorship prospectus will be available soon.

For information on how to attend Navigating the New, November 12-15, 2010 at the Sacramento Convention Center visit www.cla-net.org and follow updates @CalLibAssoc on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CalLibAssoc.

About the California Library Association

Established in 1895, the California Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association that provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services, librarianship, and the library community. CLA helps its 3,000 members excel in a fast-changing job market and is a resource for learning about new ideas and technology. Furthermore, CLA is a leading advocate on all statewide library issues and actively works to influence legislation affecting libraries and librarians. Governed by an elected Board of Directors, CLA is headquartered in Folsom, California.

• Official Press Release

With my Library Director's hat on, life in California libraryland in 2010 sometimes feels like running that gauntlet. For many of us heading into even tighter budget seasons this spring it can seem that we are being asked to do the impossible. Cut more, cut further...and then start thinking about doing even more with less in the coming years. While we rethink and reduce, our communities' need for our services and resources grows. We know that public libraries are truly "first responders" (thank you, former ALA President Jim Rettig) for families, students, seniors, the un- and under-employed in our cities, towns and counties. We know that public, school, academic and special libraries provide essential "information infrastructure" support for community, education and business activities and success. We are our communities' guides, teachers and allies.

I live in the central California coastal town of Pacific Grove, where the local city library has suffered tremendous budget cuts and is now open four days for 24 hours a week. As I mentioned in my inaugural speech, a local property tax measure dedicated to the Library was on the ballot two days after the conference ended. 65.91% of the voters approved the $96 per year parcel tax; however, it failed to achieve the 66.67% vote required to pass, losing by 30 to 35 votes. I can't tell you how disheartening that felt to me, as a resident who values libraries and the public good - and as someone who has had my life changed by what the library makes possible.

Fast forward to Saturday, February 6 - a rainy morning in Pacific Grove. Over 100 residents of all ages met together for a Library Summit - using the "Open Space" model of gathering input and sharing ideas. The interest, enthusiasm and support was palpable, as was the investment in time, energy and creativity. The results of this meeting will hopefully lead the way for a revitalized library and city. As one attendee shared at the close of the meeting, "With all these ideas and all these people who care, I'm sure the Library will stay open. I'm not going to let it close."

With my California Library Association President's hat on, I send the same message to each of you - members, colleagues, library-serving agencies, organizations and associations. With all that we bring to our work, to our constituents, and our communities, "all these ideas and all these people who care", we will get through these tough times. And working together is definitely better than going alone. I was humming the children's song that I learned so long ago at the Pacific Grove Library storytime - "The more we get together, together, together; the more we get together the happier we’ll be" - as I turned into traffic and sent back a wave to my ally on our shared journey forward. Now I send that wave, and that hope, to all of you!

Submitted to California Libraries by:

Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President

The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.

I know we've barely met, but I'm hoping you wouldn't mind answering a question for me. Why do you choose to be engaged with CLA?

You're already a busy enough as it is. Having one more item on your to-do list some days is - let's face it - exhausting, but still, as an active CLA member, you choose to have one more item to do. When you have some downtime, you choose to spend it reading and sometimes responding to listservs, blogs or tweets. You choose to take time away from your daily routine to attend interest group and/or committee meetings, participate on webinars, and travel to conferences to enhance and expand your knowledge. Why? I know we've barely met, but I'm hoping you wouldn't mind answering a question for me. Why do you choose to be engaged with CLA?

Over the next few months you will receive short member satisfaction surveys to help us better understand the value CLA currently provides and what the opportunities are to not only exceed your expectations, but the California library community's expectations as well.

I want CLA to be the to-do on all of your lists. Thank you in advance for choosing to assist your CLA team in striving to provide the tools and services you expect from your professional association.

Submitted to California Libraries by:

Holly Macriss
CLA Executive Director

CLA Members, click here to take a brief survey!

According to ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels on January 19, 2010, the total registration was higher than expected, reaching 11,095 by Monday, January 18. By comparison, registration for ALA's Midwinter Meeting in 2009 (Denver) was 10,220 by Monday, January 26.

ALAWO (ALA Washington Office) UPDATE: The ALAWO presented a review of issues facing the Library community. ALAWO Executive Director Emily Sheketoff and Lynne Bradley, Director of the Office of Government Relations (OGR), described several emerging opportunities and cautioned that the need for active advocacy is more important now than ever. Bradley discussed how efforts to modify the USA Patriot Act - especially Section 215 - are reaching the point during the next few days where steps will be needed by library advocates to call members of the House-Senate Conference Committee. Senators Feingold and Durbin were noted as firm supporters of ALA positions on this issue.

OGR Associate Director Corey Williams reported that the settlement between Google and authors/publishers concluded in September 2008 has been amended and an ALA Task Force headed by Jim Rettig is investigating the implications for libraries. A final "fairness hearing" is scheduled to be concluded by the courts on February 18, 2010.

OGR Assistant Director Jessica McGilvray reported that the Obama Administration has taken productive steps to make government information more accessible to the public. Miriam Nesbit of the Office of Government Information Services (National Archives Office) is working in cooperation with ALAWO to review complaints about government agencies for not releasing information in a timely manner and also preparing recommendations for improving access to government information so that such measures as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) will become less necessary.

Emily Sheketoff outlined the huge influx of money that could be headed to empower libraries in many areas - especially rural - to achieve broadband connectivity. Although ALA's own submission for the first round of broadband grants was not successful, OITP has every intention of trying again in round 2 (according to Alan Inouye, Director of OITP) and it is hoped that Libraries will check the "Know Your Stimulus" section of the ALAWO Web site "every day from now to March 15, 2010." Keri McGuire of OITP also discussed the release of information on Round two on January 15, 2010 and urged libraries interested in this development to download OITP's "latest publication, a profile of five library networks that successfully upgraded their broadband connectivity." [http://ala.org/casestudies]

Sheketoff discussed the opportunities faced by libraries upon the possible success of the "Jobs for Main Street Bill" in which $650 million to employ thousands of staff persons for public libraries who will be designated to help our patrons to use our libraries in developing job hunting and career development skills. She urges that we "inundate" the Senate with calls for the passage of our Library segment of this bill.

Sheketoff also explained plans to have a Library Advocacy Day Rally at 11 AM on June 29th in Washington, DC. This rally would be followed by a concerted effort by library advocates to lobby their Congresspersons and Senators on Capitol Hill. She indicated that in consequence of this effort, there will be no Library Legislative Day in 2010, but that this would resume in May 2011. To register for the Rally, contact the ALAWO at http://www.ala.org/lad

COUNCIL I: BARC (Budget Analysis and Review Committee) Chair James Neal reported on the highly skillful fiscal management of ALA during 2009. Anticipated revenue shortfalls for 2009 were addressed with corresponding expense reductions - including the elimination of positions and the use of furloughs. Since the Association ended the FY 2009 with a surplus of several hundred thousand dollars, incentives amounting to about $253,000 were provided to ALA staff as compensation for losses due to furlough days. The net revenue for 2009 General Fund was $213,296. An anticipated shortfall for 2010 based upon the first months of FY 2010 shall be addressed through measures similar to those initiated during 2009. The Endowment Fund Report by Dan Bradbury revealed that through careful management balancing and controlling risk, the Fund achieved market value of $28,680,000 by the end of 2009, and thereby recovered most of the losses that occurred since high point of its value was reached at the end of 2007 of $31.22 million. ALA President Camila Alire discussed the accomplishments of her first six months in office and progress made by her initiative, the ALA Advocacy University, and the establishment of advocacy tool kits for all types of libraries. ALA President-Elect Roberta Stevens highlighted her three initiatives for her Presidential year: (1) Frontline Fundraising training for libraries; (2) efforts by libraries to cultivate authors as library advocates in a program called "Our Authors, Our Libraries;" and (3) a contest by which youngsters will be encouraged to produce film clips for publication on YouTube with the theme "Why I need my Library."

Betty Turock (former ALA President) donated $100,000 for a push to fund the "Spectrum Presidential Initiative: National Initiative for Inclusivity in America's Libraries." Turock spoke about the need for greater diversity in the library profession and backed it up with this generous donation.

ALA-APA COUNCIL: It was reported by Keith Fiels and Rod Hersberger that the Library Support Staff Certification program will commence on January 25, 2010 and hopefully realize sufficient revenue to reverse the downward fiscal direction of ALA-APA. The ALA-APA ended 2009 with a deficit of $15,244 and has failed to repay any portion of the initial $250,000 loaned by ALA for startup back in 2003. The debt has been raised to $275,000 in order to give ALA-APA the opportunity for the Certification Program to establish a sufficient influx of revenue.

COUNCIL II: Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) President Kenton Oliver delivered reports on emerging challenges to our efforts to preserve intellectual freedom and privacy rights and introduced the new Executive Director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom, Barbara Jones. Rod Hersberger (ALA Treasurer) reported on the current situation of ALA's budget and steps anticipated for FY 2011 to contain what is expected to be another very challenging year of shortfall in revenue and rising costs. Libraries across the country are struggling with limited budgets and this will impact ALA revenues. He warned that one of the largest ongoing expenses is the rising cost of post-retirement health insurance benefits of ALA staff. Programmatic Priorities for 2010 to 2015 were approved unanimously by Council as a guide to Budget preparation for FY2011.

COUNCIL III: It was announced that Kevin Reynolds and J. Linda Williams were elected to the ALA Executive Board for the term 2010-2013. Martin Garnar, Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee, reported on current activities of the Committee. A "Resolution in Honor of the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund's Fortieth Anniversary" was approved by Council. The Fund had been "...founded in 1970 to help librarians who have been denied employment rights because of their defense of intellectual freedom or because of discrimination." Mario Ascencio, Chair of the ALA Committee on Legislation presented a report and several action items. "Resolution on Transparency and Openness in the Federal Government" was passed unanimously. "Resolution to Support Digital Information Initiatives at the U.S. Government Printing Office" was passed. "Resolution on Universal Access to Broadband" was passed unanimously. Beverly Lynch, Chair of the International Relations Committee presented a "Resolution on Rebuilding Libraries and Archives Damaged or Destroyed by the Earthquake in Haiti (passed unanimously)."

Jim Rettig (former ALA President) gave a brief report from the newly formed Google Book Settlement Task Force. This group will inform ALA Council as to the implications of this Settlement for libraries become more evident. Some programs concerning the Settlement will probably be set for ALA Annual in Washington, DC.

A "Resolution in Support of 2010 Spectrum Presidential Initiative" was passed unanimously. ALA Council remains firmly committed to expanding diversity in the Library profession.

Copies of the final wording of all resolutions an action items from Council Sessions will be posted and available on the ALA website .

Submitted to California Libraries by:

Les Kong
ALA Chapter Councilor

The letters of the winners will appear as a Four-part Series, concluding with part four with a letter from the "Emerging" winner, who wished to remain anonymous:

Anonymous
Alhambra Civic Center Library

Dear Anne Frank,

Your story touched my heart! Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was sad and painful to hear (on tapes). Tears came to my eyes as I listened and realized my past life was sad and painful too!

You were a young girl hiding in Amsterdam to escape the Nazis in World War II. But for me - living in North Korea - I was a child running away from Communism during the Korean War.

My mother passed away when I was five. About two years later, I was escaping to South Korea with my father and a bunch of people - refugees. We were hiding in caves, behind bushes, crossing mountains and rivers, sometimes with shots passing close to our heads and sides.

My father carried me on his back across water and when my feet were sore and tired. I had no shoes! In some villages, there were camps. We stayed in tents, and they gave us a ball of rice and a "pill" of salt to eat.

Once my father was taken away by soldiers with guns to become part of the North Korean Army, but he escaped at night. Then, we went farther south by boat, train, and, at last, walking across a frozen fiver to a safe place in South Korea.

We both had strong and brave fathers, Anne. They protected us. You were not happy to be missing school. I liked school too, but went for just a short time in second grade. After the war my father remarried. My step-mother and father had three children and needed me to help care for them, cook, carry water, feed farm animals, and do other farm work; but I wanted to go to school!

I married an American soldier when I was 23. I am lucky to be an American citizen now and learning English at Alhambra Library in California.

You were such a smart girl, Anne - a very smart girl! I feel bad about you dying in the concentration camp; but, I say, "Thank you!" to God for saving my life and giving us your book to read.

Thank you again!
Anonymous

Submitted to California Libraries by:

Alan Archer
President, CLA Literacy Interest Group

The Works Progress Administration, (renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939) was good to the Bernal Heights neighborhood in San Francisco. It provided much-needed construction jobs which created the Aztec Street steps, the grading and paving of Bernal Heights Boulevard and the St. Mary's Park playground. Most importantly, the excavating, grading and wall-building of the Bernal Recreation Center's field and playground literally paved the way for the construction of the neighborhood's jewel in the crown: the Bernal Heights Branch Library.

A second New Deal of sorts, in the name of the City's Branch Library Improvement Program, employed trades people all over San Francisco for the past several years. It's interesting how today's economic reality parallels that earlier era and once again the building of civic structures symbolizes hope for people.
In Bernal Heights, CDX Builders of San Francisco was awarded the library job and its crew steadily worked on the renovation for almost two years, bringing architect Andrew Maloney's vision to life. The renovated and restored Bernal Heights Branch Library reopened to the public on Jan. 30, 2010.

Maloney works with the Library Design Studio of the City's Bureau of Architecture and his design for the renovation was an intelligent and thoughtfully elegant response to the original building, which was designed by the well known and significant local architect Frederick H. Meyer. The renovation, as the original building, will clearly stand the test of time. Maloney understands the bones of the building and is honored them through his work. This dusty architectural gem was being improved through his careful lead and the crew's steady effort.

The interior workmanship is of superior quality: wood veneers painstakingly matched through careful refinishing, thoughtful use of tiling and flooring and creative use of lighting and ceiling finishes. The Beaux Arts staircase seamlessly dovetails with existing walls. The entire newly installed lower floor, which houses the public restrooms, children's room, community meeting room, and staff rooms has detailing which is fully integrated with the upper floor - not an easy feat, considering it was once a basement.

The front exterior façade now provides an access ramp which is gracefully sculpted to include public seating. There are new lighting fixtures which echo nearby streetlamps and the era of the original building. A small veranda facing the corner provides a comfortable place for neighbors to converse and watch passersby. The south façade incorporates a second access ramp into the Children's Room which does not intrude upon the architectural lines of the building.

Submitted to California Libraries by:

Lisa Dunseth
Bernal Heights Branch Manager