News from Friends of the Library & County Librarian Maurie Hoekstra:

Watch this space for regular news of what is happening in the libraries:

Wine and cheese in June, the Duck Race in July and the big Memorial Day and Labor Day book sales in Arnold will keep the Friends of the Library busy this summer and generate revenues in support of our library branches.

The Summer Reading Program “Catch the Reading Bug” begins June 11. Children are encouraged to sign up at their local library. They earn prizes provided by the Friends of the Library as they reach various reading plateaus. Children of all ages may participate – books that parents read to preschoolers will help them earn prizes. Check your local branch library for special programs.

On June 12 the Valley Springs Library will reopen on a new location on the school campus. This facility is almost triple in size from the old location. It will be easier for the public to access, easier to park and there will be comfortable seating and space to sit and read. The Friends of the Valley Springs Library will be providing furnishings and equipment that should be in place later this summer. The School District will host an Open House on June 12 at 5:30. The Friends will host a second Open House this fall once the new furnishings have arrived.

Is your Book group looking for ideas for the next book to read? Check out Book Club in a Box! A box containing 10 to 25 copies of a book can be distributed to your book club members for their next book discussion. The 49-99 Cooperative Library System funds this program and the boxes are housed at the Lodi library. Just contact Library Director Maurie Hoekstra (mhoekstra@co.calaveras.ca.us 754-6701) and tell her what title, number of copies, what date the book will be handed out and what date the book will be discussed. The box will be delivered to your nearby branch library. For a list of titles available see the heading Book Club in a Box.

Special thanks to County Supervisor Tryon for his donation of $1,000 to Angels Camp Library and $1,000 to Murphys Library from his district funds. This will go towards purchasing books for the children’s collections at these two libraries. A grant from First Five Calaveras will provide bilingual picture books for the library collection at the Valley Springs Branch Library.

Book Club in a Box
For the Book Club in a Box list of titles available as of April, 2008, click here.

Enhancements to the Book Collection

The Valley Springs Area Chapter of the Friends of the Library has donated $500
  to purchase holiday books for the Valley Springs Library collection. This
  generosity came about when a volunteer was assisting a child looking for a
  holiday book and there was no selection on the shelves. The Friends then came
  forward with a donation.
   
Scholastic Book Fair held in December at the San Andreas
  Library provided a great selection of children’s books. As a
  result the library received $800 worth of books for the
  children’s collection.
   
Mystery Readers Delight. An anonymous donor has given the
  Friends of the Calaveras County Library a Donation of $2,000
  to purchase mysteries for the library collection.
   
The MVL Inc library board approved a donation of $524 to purchase books for
  the children’s collection. An additional $100 was received from a donor to add
  to that contribution.
   
The Murphys Writers group has donated $200 to be used to purchase materials
  help help aspiring writers.
   
The Rotary Club of West Calaveras continues to donate funds since 2003 to
  purchase books in honor of their guest speakers. The speaker chooses the
  subject for the book and a gift plate is placed in each book to remind the
  community of the generosity of the Club and pay tribute to the speakers.

Holiday Home Tours
Thanks to several generous home owners who opened their homes for tours in the Copperopolis and Angels Camp areas. Over $6,500 was raised to benefit the Copperopolis and Angels Camp libraries. Appreciation also goes to Greenhorn and Saddlecreek for their participation.