Greetings!

Just like Car Week, our Summer Reading Program is in the rearview mirror. I wanted to reflect on our increase of participation and community engagement with the Summer Reading Program this year at Monterey Public Library. The library is thriving and we saw increases across the board. Our Summer Reading Program is generously sponsored by community donations and we're excited to see the results.

• 1,230 people signed up for our game program - representing all ages in the community.
• 22,464 people visited the library in June & July (how do we count this? Through our snazzy gates)
• 2,214 people attended a Monterey Public Library program this summer. This is nearly three times what we saw last year!
• We passed out hundreds of free books, coupons for burgers /ice cream, fair tickets and 75 raffle prizes to participants

Our library staff worked with local artists to create our unique gameboard, connected with local businesses for events, and engaged with community volunteers for further impact. If we count the minutes from all the gameboards that we distributed, it would be 354,960 minutes of reading by our community!

We're looking forward to increasing participation and community engagement further!~ Next year's theme will be "Plant a Seed, Read"; let us know your thoughts on what types of programs you'd like to see next summer at your Monterey Public Library.

Warmly,

Brian

MPL's Event Calendar

It’s the Summer Scares season finale!

Calling all teen horror fans -

It’s all about the HORROR BOARD GAMES!

Get ready for thrills and chills and... snacks!

Horror Board Games

Wednesday, August 27th

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM 

MPL Community Room 

Open for middle and high school students.

REMINDER 

It’s puzzle exchange time!

Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange

Saturday, August 30th

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM 

MPL Community Room

Bring your gently used puzzles and exchange it for another puzzle of

your choice.

Please make sure all puzzles

are securely packaged. 

Interesting facts: 

Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday of September every

year, became an official federal holiday under President

Grover Cleveland’s administration in 1894.

Besides the United States and Canada, most countries

around the world celebrate Labor Day on May 1st. 

Join Tim Thomas, local historian and captivating tour guide, as he explores the multicultural fishing industries and fascinating stories of Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Monterey’s waterfront. Learn firsthand how Monterey’s early maritime history shaped the City of Monterey to be a prime tourist destination.

Wharf Walks with Tim Thomas

Saturday, September 6th

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Old Fisherman's Wharf

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Tim's expansive career spans from historian and curator,

to author and collaborator. He’s partnered with several organizations

such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, California State Parks,

and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. 

He is the author of several books, including The Abalone

King of Monterey: 'Pop' Ernest Doelter and The Japanese on the Monterey Peninsula, and is the co-author of Monterey's Waterfront.

BUT so much more!

This month's Book Flight Book Club read is

The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

Love.

Mystery.

Truth.

Despair.

Death.

Lies.

Hope….

It’s a MUST READ! 

A Princess Bride Book Flight Book Club

Tuesday, September 9th

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

MPL Community Room

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

The Monterey Public Library website offers great

free resources for patrons interested in science. 

Understanding the “science behind science” is beneficial to

the foundation of health, information technology,

environmental preservation, education, and economic growth. 

Check out these resources for adults, kids, and every science enthusiast. 

Gale in Context: Environmental Studies -

focuses on the study of sustainability and the environment.

Topics include ecosystems, global warming, food safety, and

introductions to environmental disasters.

Gale Interactive: Science -

pairs high-quality digital content with interactive 3D models

and empowers instructors to lead virtual science labs and lessons.

Gale in Context: Science -

contextual information on hundreds of today's most significant science topics.

Gale Presents: National Geographic Kids

Where is the Omo Valley?

James Michael Dorsey shares his travel journeys to

one of the most remote places in Africa, Omo Valley,

located in southwest Ethiopia. 

There were no roads into the Omo until the mid 1960's and the

various tribes that live there have evolved over centuries with

no linguistic or stylistic similarities to any other African culture. 

World explorer and award-winning author, Dorsey will share writings, photographs, and stories of his fascinating voyage into the Omo. 

Dorsey takes us into villages and jungles to attend ceremonies and observe rituals few will ever see. He got close to the wildlife, witnessed the most bizarre and brutal wedding ceremony in existence, and met the gun-toting Mursi people whose women wear massive lip labrets as a mark of beauty. This evening will be a journey into unknown Africa.

Off the Beaten Path

Friday, September 12th 

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

MPL Community Room

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Dorsey’s books will be for sale at these presentations.

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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