News from PG Friends
The Friends and Foundation extend our condolences to library staff member, Crystal Henden, on the loss of her beloved husband Chris. We hold Crystal, their family and loved ones in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.
Contributions to support Crystal, Alana and Ethan in their time of need will be gratefully accepted at GoFundMe.
Read the Friends' Winter 2020 Newsletter here. Please check this site for cancelations and other changes since the Newsletter was published.
For the safety of our volunteers and customers, the Friends are not accepting book donations, and the weekday book store at St. Mary's Church is closed. Please check this site for updated information about First Saturday Book Sales.
Library Renewal construction commenced in November 2019 and is anticipated to conclude in September 2020. Monthly construction memorandums, linked on the project website, are issued from the City Public Works Director and provide vital updates on construction progress, expenditures, change orders, project completion percentages, and more!
The January 2020 Construction Memo, detailing all vital construction activities that occurred in January, is now available!
CLICK HERE to Read the Latest Construction Updates!
Don't forget to check out the rest of the Library Renewal Project webpage--your one-stop for information pertaining to the interior renovation of the Pacific Grove Public Library! In addition to monthly construction memos, you can find an overview of the project, project evolution and history, a photo gallery of construction progress, funding information and more!
Here are just a few of the newly updated construction photos!
Here are some pictures from the January 26 Annual Meeting featuring Patricia Hamilton and contributors to Book Two of Life in Pacific Grove California.
The Friends are now accepting book donations at St. Mary's Church four days a week!
If you would like to donate books, CDs, or puzzles, you may bring your donation to St. Mary’s Church Book Store two blocks away from the Library on Central between 12th and 13th at the following times only: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am -12 noon. Please do not leave books at the door! We apologize if this causes inconvenience.
Donated books need to be resalable (very dirty, discolored, mildewed, damaged or detached covers, old text books, old computer books, etc. are not suitable for resale). Please don’t donate books that you wouldn’t consider buying yourself. Puzzles are especially welcome! Thank you.
You may also purchase books at St. Mary’s Church Book Store Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am -12 noon.
In today's "The Buzz" column, the Monterey County Weekly called out the City Council's decision to move forward with the Library Renewal Project and temporary relocation to the Holman building:
GOOD:
It’s taken Pagrovians more than 13 years to get up enough money to renovate the 111-year-old Pacific Grove Public Library but they finally did it, after Friends of the Pacific Grove Public Library and the Library Foundation made a major appeal last year. More than $2.6 million was raised to return the library to its 1908 glory. The city put the project out to bid, and as often happens, the bids came back higher than hoped, leaving a potential $292,500 deficit. On Aug. 21, P.G. City Council was faced with possibly making cuts, but the Friends and Foundation made an offer: We’ll fundraise and kick in half, if you kick in half. The council agreed, voting 7-0 to accept a bid from Avila Construction to build the project as designed. The council also approved a rental agreement for $11,400/mo. to move the library into the Holman Building during the year-long construction project.
Dear Friends of the PG Library,
At their last Wednesday meeting, the Pacific Grove City Council unanimously approved the Award of Contract for the Library Renewal Project, and a lease with The Holman for temporary Library services during construction!
The move to The Holman should take place in early October, with the start of Library construction to follow.
Many thanks to all Friends members, current and past donors, contributors, helpers, the Capital Campaign Committee, the present and past City Council, Library Board, Library Foundation, Friends Board, Library, Public Works and City staff, who worked together to make this extraordinary Library Renewal Project possible.
Kim Bui
Friends President