Coming Soon: Library Demolition and Construction, By Denise Ward

COMMUNITY NEWS

Coming Soon: Library Demolition and Construction

By Denise Ward

There’s something happening in your neighborhood!

Thanks to a parcel tax passed in 2016, “Measure S” improvements are being made, will be made, or have already been made to our county’s 10 libraries.

Right here in Aptos near the corner of State Park Drive and Soquel Drive our local branch is about to be demolished. In its place will stand a state-of-the-art facility that will feature flexible community, meeting and study rooms; garden and terrace areas; a local history section; children, teen and adult reading areas; and it will be built to maximize energy efficiency.

These improvements are much anticipated by patrons of the library. It has traditionally been a very busy place. 24,705 residents of Santa Cruz County consider the Aptos branch to be their library “home.”

It is the second busiest branch in the system with 151,841 visitors during the 2019 year. Tens of thousands of books are checked out annually not to mention the digital materials that are available for download. Yes! Directly to your mobile device!

While some skeptics think that libraries are a thing of the past, the sentiment from its patrons could not be more opposite.

Based on the reopening of both Capitola and Felton branches after their rebuilds and renovations, their use doubled!

The new design will allow more room for the Aptos library to run its popular array of programs. Our library offers such programs as technical help, Children’s Story Hours, Book Discussion Groups, Literacy Training, and special workshops such as Digital Animation for teens and adults.

The libraries of today have taken on something of a community center function, bringing people together for various events designed for learning and enrichment.

The Aptos Library has a Friends’ group (as do many of the other branches) who work to support their branches with additional funding and programming.

The Aptos Friends began a program called “Our Community Reads” which has been joined by Capitola, Felton, and Le Selva Beach Friends. They work to bring community members together around a selected book. Each year since 2018, the Friends has offered free public events such as films, lectures, poetry slams, panel discussions, author visits and more, all based around themes from the book.

Our libraries are a valuable community resource and we very much look forward to endless possibilities of future programming and events here in Aptos. n •••

To make your contribution to the new Aptos Library visit: https://www.friendsofaptoslibrary.org

Can You Be a Writing Mentor?

By Wendy Wesch Thompson

We are so pleased to continue with the winter/spring offerings through Young Writers Program and look forward to your participation as writing project mentors.

For the winter/spring 2022, I am excited to announce that we are offering four classroom projects and three after school Word Lab projects guided by the Young Writers Program. My commitment to bringing the Wendy Wesch Thompson writing process to our students, especially those who have had little exposure to writing, is my priority. But I need your participation! This year’s projects are embedded in the Dedicated Writing Room at Branciforte Middle School (315 Poplar Drive, Santa Cruz)

Your participation makes an enormous difference for our young writers. The Young Writers Program needs writing mentors for our projects with two participating teachers, Payam Etemadzadeh and Sara Goldfarb.

I will be teaching the After School Word Labs three days a week. Please sign up! You will know you’ve done something worthwhile by mentoring during these challenging times — our students need you. n

Wendy Wesch Thompson is director of the Young Writers Program. •••

Payam Etemadzadeh: 8th graders write poems about restoring balance and equity in our world. Jan. 10 through Feb. 9. Classroom 1: Mondays 11am to 12 pm AND Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30am

Classroom 2: Mondays 1:20 to 2:30 pm

AND Wednesdays from 11:15am to 12:15 pm

Mentors needed: 11-12 •••

Sara Goldfarba: 8th graders write poems about restoring balance and equity in our world. Feb. 14 through March 17.

Classroom 3: Mondays 11:00 am to 12:00 pm AND Thursdays from 11:00 to 11:48 am

Classroom 4: Mondays 1:30 to 2:30pm

AND Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:30 pm

Mentors needed: 12-13 •••

Word Lab: Self selected student sign up for after school program — open genre for 4-8th graders with Wendy Thompson.

Monday: 3:30-5:30 pm – Jan. 24 to March 14.

Tuesday: 3:30 - 5:30 pm – Jan. 25 to March 15.

Wednesday: 1:30-3:30 pm – Jan. 26 to

March 16.

Mentors needed: 12 •••

Training Workshops

These workshops will provide important insights into the role as a writing mentor and background on the Young Writers Project.

Jan. 15: Best Practices Workshop, 10am to 1pm

Jan. 29: Traits of Good Writing Workshop, 10am to 1pm

Branciforte Middle School Dedicated Writing Room, 315 Poplar St.