Greetings!

Starting next week libraries across the country celebrate 'Banned Books Week'. Does this mean that we want you to start burning books in your yard? No! Quite the opposite.

Banned Books Week highlights the individual freedom of the reader, and for families to choose what is appropriate for their household. Every year the American Library Association (ALA) designates a week for libraries to highlight free speech, independent thought, and the role of censorship in our communities.

The role of the public library is to provide a wide variety of resources to meet the community need. Although our Bookmobile does serve many schools & students, Public Libraries are not school libraries. Although we serve a number of students from different colleges around the area (MIIS, CSUMB, NPS, MPC, etc.) we are not an academic library. And although we serve people in the community that work in a number of specialized fields, we are not a "Special" Library (medical, law, other). That means that we provide a broad range of topics and let the community chose what is appropriate to checkout on their own cards. A list of resources can be found at the American Library Association website for this year's theme: "Censorship is so 1984."

Authors like John Steinbeck have been banned in schools and communities. His books Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men have been banned or challenged. ALA has provided a list of the top 10 most challenged books of 2024 across the country. In my view, it's important to read books you don't like to figure out what you do like. It's vital to read from varied perspectives to get a better understanding of people around us. Remember, if you don't like something - that's OK! Maybe that book or movie will be enjoyed by someone else.

Oh, and keep an eye on our social media for a fun video with our library team that will drop next week on Facebook and Instagram. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. Have a wonderful weekend and keep learning!

Warmly,

Brian

MPL's Event Calendar

The Monterey Public Library & Colton Hall Museum welcome you to a live reenactment of the 1849 California Constitutional Convention!

Visit the site where 48 delegates debated the decisions that made California

a free state 175 years ago. Come see original documents and artifacts! 

California Constitutional Convention Reenactment

Sunday, October 5th

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

OR

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM 

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Colton Hall, 570 Pacific St. Monterey CA 93940

Parking is available behind Colton Hall Museum.

For additional questions, please call (831) 646-5640

or email museumpt@monterey.gov.

BANNED BOOKS EDITION!

Join us for a special pop-up "Silent Reading Club" in celebration of

Banned Books Week, October 5th - October 11th. 

What's a Silent Reading Club? It's a gathering of readers coming

together to share in the joy of reading with others, but

without the stress of worrying about what to say! 

All ages are welcome to come hang out, bring your current read

or grab one of the banned books we'll have available.

We may even have some advanced reader copies to give away!

Silent Reading Club - Banned Books Edition 

Tuesday, October 7th

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

MPL Community Room

Refreshments will be served. 

Celebrate 175 years of California!

The State Supreme Court last visited Monterey in 1959 for a

2-day special session.

On October 8th, the State Supreme Court is scheduled to visit Colton Hall for special oral arguments. 

Live streaming of the oral arguments and overflow seating will be available in the Monterey Public Library Community Room.  

California State Supreme Court Oral Arguments

Wednesday, October 8th

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Streaming Event: California State Supreme Court Oral Arguments

Overflow at MPL Community Room

Please note: entry to the Community Room will be through the back entrance of the Library building prior to 10am. 

To find out more information on court cases, please review the

State Supreme Court Oral Arguments Calendar.

A list of the California Supreme Court Justices can be found here.

Let’s get CREATIVE!

At MPL we are proud to serve as a vibrant hub for the Monterey community by partnering with local nonprofits, businesses, and families .

This year, we are excited to host two of the official sites for the

Arts Council for Monterey Open Studios Art Tours -

both at MPL and Colton Hall.

Open Studios Art Tour 

Saturday, October 11th

Sunday, October 12th

Saturday, October 18th

Sunday, October 19th

Tours are from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

Want to create your own 3"x3" masterpiece?

While supplies last, stop by MPL

and pick up your own tiny painting project. 

Please return your artwork to the Library by October 10th

to participate in our community and staff art display.

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Check out this month’s SPOOKY & SPECTACULAR PROGRAMS!

And some TEEN HORROR PROGRAMS!

CANDY CORN

JAR GUESS



How many candy

corns fill the jar?

Submit your best

guess for a chance

to win a prize!

October 1st - 31st

Open to middle and

high school students

Teen Scavenger Hunt 

Search for hidden characters in the

teen section!

Snap a photo and

claim your prize! 

Open to middle and high school students

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Join the Teen Advisory Board for costume contests, pumpkin decorating,

and snacks!



Wed., October 29th 

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM 

MPL Community Room

Ages 13 and up

Journey through Monterey’s storied past with a

tour of the Pacific Biological Laboratories… 

Lab docents will share the big story of this unassuming building. Once a

small family dwelling, it played a pivotal role in the life and work of

marine biologist Ed Ricketts, his friendship and collaboration with author

John Steinbeck, their circle of friends, and the "PBL Members" who bought

the Lab in the mid-1950s and founded the Monterey Jazz Festival. 

Pacific Biological Lab Tours

Saturday, October 11th

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

 OR 

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM 

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Pacific Biological Laboratories, 800 Cannery Row, Monterey

Current waitlist is available

Tours of the Lab are free of charge and last one hour.

OR 

Stop by during OPEN HOURS

Saturday, October 11th

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Pacific Biological Laboratories, 800 Cannery Row, Monterey

OR

WATCH A VIRTUAL TOUR HERE.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Museums Office at (831) 646-5648 or email museumpt@monterey.org.

DON'T MISS!

MPLF&F Used Book Sale

THIS SATURDAY, October 4th

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 

MPL Library Foyer 

MPLF&F is also seeking volunteers for the

Monterey Bay Half Marathon Expo. 

Friday, November 7th and

Saturday, November 8th

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM 

To sign up, use the volunteer portal

with the password LibraryFriends. 

 Please email Sue Moore, at smoore@npsfoundation.org, for questions

and or to sign up to assist with pre and post marathon setup.

MPL Hours of Service:

Monday: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Bookmobile Information:

Call (831) 646-3710 or click Bookmobile for detailed hours and locations.

Monterey Public Library | (831) 646-3933 | monterey.gov/library

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