20 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com color palette with reds, purples and greens that draws the eye toward the house, semi-hidden by greenery. “It wasn’t the kind of thing that I ordinarily would have gotten, but it turned out that I really like it,” Bresnahan says. Bresnahan was living in a rental home in 2020 while hers was being remodeled. “I didn’t want to get paintings permanently, because I didn’t know if they would fit,” she remembers. During a visit to the library, Bresnahan and her 11-year-old daughter Zoe saw the painting, signed it out and decided they love it—it’s on their list to purchase their own. Maybe you think of libraries as quiet places where librarians go around keeping the silence and shushing people; while most libraries have dedicated quiet study areas, this stereotype is far from the truth. Libraries of today have play areas and colorful toys for kids where they can play, run and laugh, or tables with puzzles at different stages of completion that invite people to work collectively to finish them. (Seaside’s Monterey County Free Libraries branch features several completed puzzles framed and hanging on the walls.) People regularly plug devices in at the charging station at Monterey Public Library, and may go doze off in a comfy chair nearby. At the Marina branch, there are regular community gatherings; one of the most popular is Dads Read! Every month, dozens of kids and their parents gather to listen to a man, mostly fathers, read aloud—another attempt to upend an outdated stereotype. Although it’s not a requirement, most of the reading selections are meant for kids. Parents also have time to socialize and grab groceries from the Food Bank for Monterey County, buy used books or exchange clothing with Buy Nothing Marina. During this event, the play area is full of kids and adults; occasionally, there is also a party with music, lighting and popcorn. Also at the Marina library, the workshop “Biology with Berta” invites kids to search for bugs or learn how to make bubbles and learn about scientific principles. Nature Journaling invites participants ages 14 and older to draw their surroundings. At Marina and other libraries, local clubs that bring people together for everything from chess to knitting regularly meet in community rooms. At El Gabilan Library in Salinas, a stationary exercise bike lets people read or write while pedaling. At Monterey Public Library, classes on how to use the 3-D printer give people a chance to make stuff. All of this has the effect of making libraries louder spaces than they once were, which sometimes impacts the experience for people more accustomed to quiet. Some longtime regulars were having a difficult time enjoying the library and feeling anxious, Theyer says. To fix that, MCFL added artificial pets to its collection for checkout from its 16 branches. These little dogs and cats curl up on people’s lap and many vibrate; people can soothe themselves by caressing them. “This intervention helped people be calm in our space,” Theyer says. “We want to be sure we’re not excluding anybody from our space.” It’s not just things, but also gateways to experiences that are available to check out at local libraries. An array of kits, tools and programs are available based on age, for kids, teens and adults. Systems including MCFL, Monterey, P.G. and Salinas, teamed up with California State Parks and offer free state park parking passes; some also offer adventure backpacks filled with supplies for outdoor recreation. Francis Hebert, Salinas Public Libraries’ technical services manager, says they focus on acquiring items community members are interested in that might be a cost barrier for them. “We’re trying to be a one-stop shop,” Hebert says. At Steinbeck Library in Salinas, a prominent display shows different adventure packs available for checkout, like birdwatching, nature walking or camping. The camping pack includes a compass, first aid kit, emergency whistle, lantern and a camping book. Backpacks available are not just for campers. There are different styles, based on the content they are filled with. For kids, for example, some backpack offerings are in clear bags— looking at the books and dolls inside might get them interested and excited “A public library can be what its community needs it to be, and we can pivot pretty readily. We’re very open to new ideas and experimenting and piloting to meet community needs,” Monterey County Free Libraries Director Hillary Theyer says. Theyer has checked out dementia kits to help her better understand her mother’s illness; the kits include tools for caregivers as well as patients, with activities to boost their learning and soothe them. Criteria for inclusion in the seed collection at Monterey Public Library includes a requirement that plants are not invasive in the region. A library card isn’t required to check out seeds, says Sofia Neal. Daniel Dreifuss Celia Jiménez
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