The Library is the Happening Place

There’s no question. It’s been a tough budget year. At this point it looks better for the library. If the final budget remains as proposed and voted on by Council, we will maintain our 36 hours at branch libraries into the next fiscal year starting on July 1, 2011; and we will not have to make staff reductions after all. If that happens, we will all breathe a sigh of relief and can move forward on addressing the evolving needs of our community with the current level of resources.

While much of our time was focused on the budget, Library staff continued to provide outstanding service and high quality programs. Recent awards they received reflect this dedication. READ/San Diego – Families for Literacy Program won $10,000 in the annual Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Award. READ/San Diego was recognized for helping adult participants achieve their literacy goals, including sharing books with their children and helping them with homework.

Our History Librarian, Rick Crawford, received the History Award of Excellence from the Historical Resources Board for his Union-Tribune “The Way We Were” weekly column detailing the history of the San Diego region. Although writing the column is not directly associated with his position in the Library, it is representative of the special historical expertise that Rick brings to his work with the Library’s Special Collections, including genealogy, the California Room local treasures, and the Wangenheim Rare Book Collection.

The Logan Heights Branch Library Teens “Project Unknown,” which I referenced in a past blog, won 2nd runner up (third place) and $1,000.00 in the highly competitive American Library Association Teen Video Contest, “Why I Need My Library.” The six teens who submitted the video are 13 years old and members of the Logan Heights Branch Library Teen Council. They filmed and edited the video and also wrote and performed their original song about why their library is a special place. We’re so proud of their accomplishment and how actively they advocate for their library!

And there’s more…The San Diego Family Magazine just awarded Mission Valley Branch Library and Scripps Miramar Ranch Branch Library the Best Children’s Libraries. Hundreds of readers voted for their favorite things to do, places to go and local hotspots in San Diego. The magazine’s voters recognized what community members have known for years about the amazing resources that the San Diego Public Library provides to people of all ages.

In addition to these awards, we have so much happening at all of our libraries. In May the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library hosted a successful job fair that allowed job seekers to meet with top employers, acquire job leads, connect with key job resources, attend seminars, get referrals, and network. Linda Vista Branch Library hosted a Technology Fair for Older Adults to learn more about using various technology devices. University Community Branch Library hosted a College Application Essay Writing Workshop to provide tips to teens for how to write college application essays that stand out.

The summer is going to be just as busy with Summer Reading Program beginning June 15. This year in addition to children and teens, we are offering adults a chance to participate and win fabulous prizes. Black Storytellers of San Diego will present captivating stories at Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library in honor of Juneteeth, the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S. And construction on the new Central Library is progressing on schedule. The "gravity arch," designed to carry the load of upper floors, is now being erected and is quite impressive to see on the skyline. Check out the new detailed webcam that allows you to zoom in on construction in real time.


It’s going to be an exciting summer and I’m looking forward to planning for the year ahead. We are eager to examine how we can evolve our services to meet the changing needs of our community.

Teen Music Group Serves the Community and Their Future!

Over the last two weeks, along with the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Parks and Recreation Director, Public Works, and other City of San Diego departments, I have participated in the Mayor’s Town Hall Meetings held throughout the city. It is obvious from the attendance that people care deeply about the services the City provides and they are concerned about what the future holds. While none of us know for certain about the financial outcome and the potential cuts we may experience, the Library will do everything we can to offer quality services to the best of our ability given the level of financial resources available.

It is at times like these that I especially take heart in remembering all of the creative and positive things that are taking place in our libraries and the communities we serve. One of the best examples is happening in our newest branch library, Logan Heights, which opened just under a year ago.

Under the skillful guidance of the Youth Services Librarian, Adriana (Ady) Huertas, the Logan Heights Teen Council, composed of several youth who volunteer at the library, voted to start a music program to teach teens how to sing and play a variety of musical instruments. Friends of the Logan Heights Library member Judy Eby, who had already donated a grand piano to the new library, was so inspired by the teen’s enthusiasm that she donated musical instruments and obtained approval from the Friends Group to pay for a music instructor for three months.

The logo design that the Teen Music Group created.

A group of 22 dedicated teens met weekly beginning in June to practice. They named their group, “Project Unknown” and designed their own logo and T-shirts. Their first goal was to perform at the Summer Reading Program Grand Finale event on August 14. Their second performance was the next day at an annual community event, Fiesta Del Sol, and they also performed this week at the library’s Halloween Celebration. All events were a big hit!

" Project Unknown" performing at the Summer Reading Program
Grand Finale event on August 14.

With the success of “Project Unknown,” The Logan Heights Friends Group has agreed to pay for an additional singing instructor this Fall. A partnership has been formed with a non-profit organization in Point Loma called A.R.T.S (aka A Reason To Survive – web site: http://www.artsurvive.org/) to provide the Teen Music Program with transportation and access to other musicians, artists, and singing instructors to help improve their performance skills. This partnership also offers art lessons for the group and other teens of the Logan Heights community at the library every Saturday.

Through the expert mentoring of Ady Huertas, Judy Eby, and the Friends of the Logan Heights Library, the teens have been encouraged to take ownership and responsibility by raising funds through book sales, bake sales, and rummage sales to help pay for their group’s T-Shirts and other important materials. They also participated in a letter writing campaign to the Friends of the Library and raised $3,000 so that the music program can continue.

From left to right Daniel Gomez, Juanita Arratia, Yadira Arratia,
Jeanette Arratia, Jeovanna, Eunice Rabadan, David Gomez (can't see his face),
Ruben Ochoa, Armando Herrera, Standing in back:
Adriana (Ady) Huertas (Librarian), Jocelyn Torres and Ashley Ayala.

This has been such a successful program for our teens that I asked them to speak about their music program at last month’s Library Commission meeting and the Branch Managers meeting. It is a great model for other libraries. We’ve already had a call from a librarian on the east coast who said she had never heard of this type of library program anywhere else in the U.S.

I’m so proud of our Logan Heights Librarian Ady Huertas for spearheading this group and thankful to our volunteer and donor extraordinaire, Judy Eby, and to our Friends of the Library Group for supporting it. Clearly, this is an extraordinary effort in every way. I am so impressed with the teens for their commitment to serving the community and their futures. It is so gratifying to know that the library continues to play such an important role in changing people’s lives!