Wilburn to Head Santa Cruz Public Libraries, By Jondi Gumz • 8 Tens 8 Returns: Actors’ Theatre Live on Jan. 14 • Santa Cruz County Jobs

COMMUNITY NEWS

Wilburn to Head Santa Cruz Public Libraries

By Jondi Gumz

Yolande Wilburn is poised to be the next director for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, succeeding Susan Nemitz.

With approval by the SCPL joint powers authority board of directors, Wilburn would be the first woman of color to the lead the system in its 153-year history. Her first day would be Jan. 3. Santa Cruz Public Libraries consist of 10 branches, a $15 million budget, 98 full-time equivalent staff, 438,466

Yolande Wilburn items in the collection and circulation of 672,684 for physical items and 467,875 for electronic materials.

Wilburn’s specialty is meeting the needs of the community via library services.

She comes from Torrance, population 146,860, where she was city librarian for two years, overseeing six branch locations with 573,000 items, circulation of 658,246 and a $7 million budget.

During the pandemic, she read children’s storybooks in “virtual storytime” on YouTube and implemented Polaris and Vega software to improve search functions for patrons and reduce staff time spent on catalogue management.

She was involved in the California Library Association’s Advocacy & Legislation Committee, proposing library database-sharing for youth, which State Librarian Greg Lucas then championed.

Wilburn grew up spending many hours at the Chicago Public Library. Later, she worked there as page. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.

She got a master’s in library and information science at San Jose State University before returning to Chicago Public Library where she won a MacArthur Foundation grant to create the library’s first makerspace — which won the 2013 Social Innovator Award.

She went on to work at Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where students commonly used ebooks, returning to California as manager for the County of Los Angeles Public Libraries, overseeing renovation at A C Bilbrew Library, which houses the county’s African American Resource Center, hosting a Black Books Expo, and opening the Manhattan Beach Library.

Next she spent three years in the Nevada County Community Library system, first as a deputy director and then program manager before being named library director. She oversaw six branches and two service locations in the Sierra Nevada foothills, completing an outdoor amphitheater, forging a partnership to provide musicians for the Summer Learning Program concert series, and participating in the Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries.

“Yolande’s talent and experience align perfectly with the direction of our library system,” said Carlos Palacios, Library Board Chairman and county administrative officer, in announcing her selection. “Through Measure S, we are in the middle of the largest public investment in our system’s history, and Yolande is the best choice to carry this work forward.”

Wilburn said, “I sincerely look forward to working closely with patrons, staff and our community to make our system the best it has ever been. I’m grateful for the faith the selection committee has placed in me, and I’m ready to get to work.” n

8 Tens @ 8 Returns: Actors’ Theatre Live on Jan. 14

Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre returns to live performances after nearly two years of pandemic closure, presenting the 26th Annual 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival: Jan, 14 through Feb. 6,

Santa Cruz County Jobs

Report posted Dec. 17 November unemployment 4.9% Change from Nov. 2021 a year ago Leisure & hospitality 10,400 Up 1,300 Private education 17,600 Up 800 & health Government 20,500 Up 600 Other services 4,700 Up 300 Professional/business 10,500 Up 100 services Construction 4,600 0 Information 500 0 Trade/transportation/ 16,200 Down 100 utilities Financial 3,100 Down 100 Manufacturing 6,900 Down 100 •••

8,400 Up 1,100 95,000 Up 2,800

Total 103,400 Up 3,900

Labor force 134,200 Up .8%

Employed*

127,300 Up 3.3% Unemployed 6,900 Down 30%

Count is on the 12 of the month at the Center Stage Theater, 1001 Center St., downtown Santa Cruz.

The 10-minute play festival is one of the most anticipated and popular events of the theatre season in Santa Cruz.

The 2022 Festival will stage 18 awardwinning short plays from the 2020/21 International Playwriting Contests as well two winners from the Young Playwrights’ Contest last summer.

The 18 plays will be presented in repertoire over the four-week festival with nine plays on “A” night and nine different plays on “B” night.

Every summer Actors’ Theatre holds an international playwriting contest, judged by a select group of local writers and directors. The winning plays are then produced into full productions for the January Festival. The renowned contest draws well over 300 entrees every year from around the world.

“Actors’ Theatre is now home to the longest running short play festival in the United States,” said Andrew Ceglio, the new executive artistic director.

“8 Tens @ 8” page 26

Photo Credit: Jana Marcus

Waking Up — starring Avondina Wills and Karen Blagmon. (presented pre-COVID)

“Hunger Heroes” from page 22

The result? They raised 26,168 meals and learned a valuable lesson — every step counts.

Others organized rummage sales and bake sales, employee raffles and online auctions, and some converted their personal time off to donations. Generous musicians in a band donated the proceeds from their performance.

From surfers, cyclists, paddleboarders and joggers to firefighters, law enforcement and the faith community, our county unites around the Holiday Food & Fund Drive.

It’s impossible to acknowledge all the Hunger Heroes making a difference for so many this year. This story celebrates them all. n •••

Become a Hunger Hero

Second Harvest is supporting about 50 percent more people this year compared to previous year averages. Participating in the 2021 Holiday Food and Fund Drive is easy for individuals, organizations, or businesses.

Contact — julie@thefoodbank.org or visit www.thefoodbank.org/hero to order a ‘Mini Collection Barrel’ for cash collection.

Nominate a Hunger Hero

Second Harvest is looking for all the hunger heroes. Nominees may be educators, advocates for food policy change or volunteers who use their time, energy, or resources to help fight hunger in our county.

The Hunger Fighter of the Year is recognized at the annual Awards Dinner in March. Nomination deadllne is Jan. 7.