www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 25 CULTURE In a county with a rich history, a five-year anniversary may not sound like much. But El Gabilan Library in North Salinas, part of the Salinas Public Library system, has a lot to celebrate. To start with, its numbers are impressive. El Gabilan is the most frequented of all three branches of SPL. It has 75,000 visitors each year, lending about 111,000 items annually. Last year it held over 200 community events attended by nearly 10,000 people. According to Deputy Librarian Tim Kuelker and Community Education Manager Ernesto Lizaola, this success is due not only to the actual need, but also because of its modern concept. “Traditional libraries used to be just stacks of books,” Kuelker says. “People would come, check out a book and then you’d be out within 15 minutes. Now libraries are community places where you come to learn, to hang out, to study, to socialize.” These days visitors spend on average two hours in the building. The children’s section and youth activities are the most popular, with storytimes drawing the largest audiences. The teen section has a lot of traffic, too. Both sections are located on the first floor, which is louder than a traditional library, with more activities and buzz happening. Before the new building was constructed, storytimes used to take over the whole library, disrupting other users. Now, the quiet upstairs has multiple study rooms that can serve families or small groups. Both levels have patios—the downstairs one with nice grass to sit on; the upstairs deck could compete with a rooftop restaurant. Saturday is the busiest day of the week, but many students come to El Gabilan after school to study and get their homework done. The older readers come to read newspapers. In addition to library events, many organizations use the library. Some programs assist people studying English or working toward becoming a citizen. There are literacy programs and a large community room where the biggest events take place. There are even exercising machines if you think you can read and work out at the same time. A future goal is to have a room where members of the public can use a 3D printer or make a T-shirt. The fifth-year anniversary event will feel more like a party than a traditional library, with food trucks, storytime, birthday cake, crafts and more. El Gabilan Library fifth anniversary celebration 11am-3pm Saturday, March 1. 1400 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. 758-7302, salinaspubliclibrary.org. DANIEL DREIFUSS Open Book In five years, El Gabilan Library has shown the value of breaking with tradition. By Agata Popęda Tim Kuelker, deputy librarian for the Salinas Public Library, at the 21,000-square-foot El Gabilan Library, which celebrates its fifth anniversary on March 1. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AND TAKEOUT Eat + Drink 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 www.abalonetti.com ’24 LUNCH & DINNER SERVED DAILY from 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari ’24 BEST RESTAURANT IN MONTEREY! JOIN US NIGHTLY FOR DINNER AT 5PM TWO HAPPY HOURS DAILY 5-6PM & 8-9PM Call or go to sardinefactory.com for details, reservations. 701 Wave Street, Monterey, 831-373-3775 Wood Fired Pizzas, Burgers, Pasta, salads, sandWiches and more 11:30am mon-Fri, 10am Sat & Sun melvilletav.com 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 haPPY hour Food & drinK sPecials Sun-Thurs 4-6pm WEEKEND BRUNCH WITH BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT + BAR @ LOVERS POINT ★ CASUAL CALIFORNIA DINING INDOOR & PATIO DAILY AT 4:30PM 620 OCEAN VIEW BLVD. PACIFIC GROVE 831-375-2345 • BEACHHOUSEPG.COM LOVERS POINT BEACH CAFE OPEN DAILY, 9AM–4PM ’24 Best Restaurant in Pacific Grove OPEN EVERYDAY for DINNER at 4:30pm Offering all your favorites plus wine, cocktails, bottle and draft beers. 763 Wave St., Monterey 831.373.3778 thewhalingstation.com ’24 Best Steak Monterey’s MOST Recommended Pizzeria Open at 4pm Mon-Thurs • Open at 3pm Fri Open at 12pm Sat.& Sun. 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey giannispizzamonterey.com 831-649-1500 Best Pizza ’98-’24 Fisherman’s Wharf’s Newest Restaurant Serving Fresh Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Sandwiches Open Daily at 11:30am Great views at the end of the Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 Indoor and Outdoor Dining on the Dog Friendly Patio Tapas (Happy) Hour 4:30–6pm Nightly Saturday & Sunday Brunch 9am–1:30pm 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com ’24 Best Appetizers/ Small Plates
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==