Friends of the Library Save Popular Kids Reading Nook

Since the Palisades Branch Library reopened on February 22, 2003, the Friends of the Library has been on the case. After spearheading a successful fundraising campaign for the new library building, the Friends group has continued to make improvements and adjustments to all aspects of the library’s operation. Friends of the Library president Gina Vincent, who took over from longtime president Mitzi Blahd in June, recently gave a walking tour of the library and pointed out all the work that her support group has done, or plans to do. For example, one of the most popular features in the children’s library from day one has been the circular window nook, which is incorporated into the fairy tale mural along the wall in the storytelling area. However, it was so popular that it has been repaired three times. ‘The drywall was not meant to hold up to the abuse of little feet banging against it,’ Vincent said. The Friends are spending $2,000 to fix it, this time with fiberglass and resin, like a boat. The artist will then re-paint it for the last time. ‘The window is the cutest thing about the library,’ she said. ‘Everyone loves it so much that we’re willing to spend the money so [city library officials] won’t close it off.’ Problems persisted in non-library patrons parking in the library lot and then going to classes in the adjacent Alma Real building, or conducting business elsewhere in the village, which resulted in a lack of space for library patrons. To remedy this problem and make it less convenient for non-patrons to park at the library, the Friends has extended the wrought iron fence to fill in an open space between the library and the 881 Alma Real building. Also, parking enforcement officers do patrol the library parking lot in the morning, and have given out tickets. ‘We’re hoping that parking is now just going to be for people at the library,’ Vincent said. Used book sales every six weeks are the Friends’ biggest source of funds, bringing in $50,000 to $55,000 a year. Money is also received from membership fees and private donations. ‘This past year we spent $40,000 just on books, not including books on tape and DVDs,’ Vincent said, adding that the branch has the city’s largest collection of recorded books, bolstered by $20,000 in purchases last year. Vincent projects that the Friends will spend $80,000 this year, paying for things that the city’s budget doesn’t cover such as a new copier and a clean-up crew from Chrysalis StreetWorks, which provides additional maintenance and trash removal and gardening for the back area of the library. The Friends also plan to buy furniture for the small patio, located next to the children’s area, which faces the grassy knoll. Currently, the area is locked and not open to the public, and is ‘a waste of space,’ said Vincent, so her group hopes to make it more comfortable for library patrons to sit and read outside. Teen librarian Brad Allen has been leading a teen advisory group that provides occasional Friday night movie showings in the community room, funded by the Friends. ‘We are very grateful to our Friends group,’ said Emily Fate, acting senior librarian. ‘They do so much to improve this library, and we are lucky to have them.’ Another new benefit sponsored by the Friends is Project Bestseller. Rather than reserving a popular book through the L.A. library system, and perhaps waiting weeks for a copy, patrons can check the book out of the Palisades branch for 25 cents a day. These bestsellers remain safely out of the library’s computer system, and are thus more readily available here. People can also request books they want for the program. Current examples include John Grisham’s ‘The Broker’ and Khaled Hosseini’s ‘The Kite Runner.’ Vincent became a Palisades Library Association board member in part to get her children involved. ‘I love the library. I thought if I was more involved there, my children would go with me, get comfortable there and get to know the librarians,’ she said. ‘I thought it would be a great place for my kids to love as much as I do.’ She and husband Garth, a lawyer, have three children’Calvary Christian students Katherine, 8, and Derek, 7, and Presbyterian Preschooler Caroline, 4. In addition to her work with the library, Gina is an active volunteer at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will become president of the Junior Women’s Club this month. ‘The library board is a great way to serve in our wonderful community,’ Vincent said. ‘You can get as involved as you would like to be.’ Meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the library’s community room. The next meeting is May 10, with the annual meeting to elect new officers held on June 14.