FRIENDS OF THE GLENDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY news EDITOR:MARYALICETOOMEY SPRING 2009 VOL.15•ISSUE1 FROM THE DIRECTOR From Director of Libraries Cindy Cleary All over our country people are extolling the role that libraries play in a down economy. In a recent article on CNN.com entitled “Hard Economic Times a Boon for Libraries” National Library Week - April 12-18 the author quotes Kristin McDonough, director of the Annual Meeting of Friends of the Library Science, Industry and Thursday, May 21, 6:30 pm Business Library in New York City, “Whenever you have tough granted. In this economic downturn REDUCE YOUR COST OF DEBT economic times, public libraries are a libraries are even more important to our place people go because they have no quality of life by providing job resources Do you know that the Glendale City other alternatives or because they for the unemployed or those seeking new Employees Federal Credit Union partners know they are going t o get the kind of opportunities, a literacy program where with the Friends of the Library to support powerful information that will make a well trained tutors help people of all ages the services and activities of the Glendale Public Library? Credit Union membership is difference in their lives.” improve their reading and writing skills, now open to members of the Friends. workshops to improve computer literacy, I was thrilled to hear President Obama and programming from story times for During a recession, it’s important to save mention public libraries in his recent children to author appearances for all money wherever you can. One way is to speech to the nation outlining his ages. We also offer a community space convert your costliest debt, which for most budget. He told the story of where people can gather, share idea s and people is credit cards, into lower cost debt. Ty’Sheoma Bethea, a young girl from just get out of the cold or be with another South Carolina who wrote him a letter person. Budgets are slim but our future To do this, pay off your credit cards with a asking for help in improving her school. is bright. loan that has a substantially lower rate. For “We are just students trying to become example, the national average credit card lawyers, doctors, congressmen like Thank you for your ongoing support of rate is nearly 11.6% APR. Glendale City Employees Federal Credit Union, a yourself and one day president, so we our library system and I hope that you will longtime sponsor of Friends of the can make a change to not just th e state continue that support by donating a book, Glendale Public Library, has a line of credit making a monetary donation, or of South Carolina but also the world. with rates as low as 6.9% APR. We are not quitters.” She told him she encouraging someone you know to had gone to the public library to type become a member of the Friends of the Using this loan to pay off high-interest the letter and asked her teacher to Glendale Public Library. It will make a credit cards would lower your rate by provide the stamp. difference in the life of someone like about 40%, reduce your total interest Ty’Sheoma. It will make a difference to liability, and enable you to pay off your The library continues to be essential to the 3,000 people who walk through our debt sooner. Plus, it could result in lower people like Ty’Sheoma who don’t have doors ev eryday. In the meantime, keep monthly payments, which may let you the resources that many of us take for on reading! increase your household budget. continued on page 2 Reduce Your Cost of Debt (cont’d) PRESIDENT’S Glendale City EFCU is a locally owned CORNER financial cooperative that many people in John Steele the community rely on as their primary financial institution. It offers a complete Well, certainly 2009 is starting line of financial products including auto off to be a VERY interesting year! loans, checking, mortgages and online We have had to learn a whole banking. It also saves members’ money by new vocabulary, such as being part of a nationwide network of “economic stimulus” and “bail 28,000 free ATMs. out.” City governments, and, therefore, libraries are not immune from the economic Members of Friends are eligible to join troubles that our country is currently experiencing. Glendale City EFCU. Go to www.glendalecitycu.org or call On the other hand, we have seen an upturn in library 818/ 548-3976 to learn how to open usage as many people are turning to less expensive entertainment. And, as you know, libraries specialize in a an account. whole raft of free items ranging from the latest best sellers in books and DVD’s to many types of cultural Annual Percentage Rate effective 2/1/09 events. Our Authors, Artists and Friends series is one of and subject to change. Actual rate and several events which have proven popular. The Brand credit limit based on approved credit Library, to mention just one of our facilities, has many determined by managed-risk program and cultural offerings. may vary depending on creditworthiness. Loans subject to approval. The current economic downturn makes your support of the Friends even more important. We are determined that the Glendale Public Library continue to offer quality service to its patrons. Your feedback is an important measure of how we are doing, both as a Library and a Friends organization. Our book sales, particularly over Amazon.com, have been an excellent source of revenue. Monies that come in through our annual utility bill mailing have also been quite welcome. We have been blessed with an outstanding Board of Directors. All Board members are willing to pitch in and help out where needed. We continue, however, to look for persons who are interested in joining our Board. If this would appeal to you, please let us know. A reminder that our annual meeting will be held Thursday, May 21 at 6:30 pm. Following the meeting we are pleased to present a talk by famed journalist Robert Scheer. Mr. Scheer’s reputation has been built on the strength of his social and political writing. This will be a talk which you will not want to miss. www.friendsofglendalepubliclibrary.org 818-546-2538 2 ADULT SUMMER READING PROGRAM Why should kids have all the fun? Join the Adult Summer Reading Program. Visit the Library and fill out an entry form each time you read a book from June 22 through September 5. Write a short review (3 – 6 sentences) that we can use on the Library Blog. A weekly drawing will be held for a free DVD rental. There will be a grand prize drawing at the close of the program. Have a little fun this summer. Read books and join the Adult Summer Reading Program! CHILDREN’S SUMMER READING PROGRAM Get Creative @ Your Library is this The Librarians have selected an sponsorship of the Friends of the year’s theme for the Children’s assortment of books at all reading Glendale Public Library this Summer Reading Program. Starting levels from which the readers can program is expected again to June 8 and running through August make their selection. Also during be a rousing success.-- 1 children will sign up in the this period special storytimes and Children’s Room or Children’s area visiting performers will be TEENS, TOO: Read anything from of their branch Library and will be scheduled at all of the Library sites. June 8 - August 8 and complete a given a reading log and a bookmark form to enter a prize bookmark. For the next eight Last year over 8,000 children giveaway. Call (818) 548-3747 weeks, or faster if they can, each participated in the program and it is or see www.glendaleteens.com will read books at their reading and anticipated that this year’s numbers for details. interest levels and when the magic will be just as great as many number of eight is completed, bring families know how important good their log back to t he Library to reading skills are for their children. claim a prize book. Thank s to the generous THE BOOK NOOK by Mary Alice Toomey The Fri ends of the Library bookstore, The Book Nook, is located on the main floor of the Central Library. Besides the variety of attractively priced items found in the store, visit the Red Tag sale next to the check-out desk, where books are placed for clearance. If you are an Amazon.com book buyer please be sure to go through the Friends of the Glendale Public Library web site (friendsofglendalepubliclibrary.org) and link to Amazon; there is no charge to the buyer and the Library benef its directly. The Friends also post books for sale on Amazon, a program which has turned out to be very successful. According to the information collected by Friends board member Peter Breckheimer the most popular Amazon orders are history, the arts, behavioral sciences, science, and religion. With the Library’s materials budget affected by the economy’s downturn, the Friends money- raising efforts are now especially urgent. When you are in the Central Library, stop in and see the selection at The Book Nook. 3 AUTHORS, ARTISTS, & FRIENDS Cloris Leachman Thursday, April 16, 7 pm Glendale Public Library Auditorium The Emmy and Oscar-winning actress discusses Lindstrom on The Mary her new autobiography, Cloris, and her recent Tyler Moore Show.