Newsletter November 2024
Giving Thanks
This year marked my 10th anniversary as Director of Library & Cultural Services for the City of Mission Viejo. It continues to be a great joy and privilege to serve this community and work with such a wonderful, creative, and dedicated group of staff and volunteers to bring the best services to our residents.
Looking back over the past 10 years, I have so much to be grateful for that it’s impossible to list it all. But here are just a few highlights:
We’ve been awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding to support enhancements to our services such as a Veterans’ Resource Center; early childhood and parent education programs; new technology; local history preservation; a community cookbook; artworks and art exhibits; paid teen internships; a disability needs assessment; furniture updates; books and other library materials; and so much more.
We adjusted our library policies and practices to make them more patron-friendly, encourage more usage of the library, and make our facility, services, and materials more accessible to our community, as evidenced by a huge increase in library circulation and culminating in going fine-free in 2022.
We took over an under-utilized City-owned facility and turned it into the Potocki Center for the Arts, increasing our arts classes and programs to now-record attendance, and expanding our partnership with the Pacific Symphony to bring more great music to our City.
We navigated the challenges of the pandemic, finding creative ways to continue serving our patrons (virtual programs and curbside pickup) and made use of the library closures to accomplish big projects (collection inventory; and relocating adult fiction and non-fiction collections).
Through it all, we relied on our amazing staff and our incredible volunteers and supporters. Our Friends of the Library have been with us through thick and thin, donating well over $3 million since the library’s opening and continuing to support us with bookstore and Amazon sales along with creative fundraisers like the annual Purse Palooza so that we can continue to bring the best new materials and programs to our community. Interested in how you can support the library? You can volunteer with the Friends or make a donation. Our newly updated tribute form allows you to designate a donation in honor or memory of a special person or occasion and benefit current and future patrons at the same time.
As we near the peak of the fall season and draw closer to the holidays, I hope you, like me, have much to be grateful for, and I wish you and your loved ones all the best.
Friends of the Library Holiday Book Sale Nov. 22-23
A variety of nearly new materials for all ages will be available for purchase at the Friends of the Library’s annual Holiday Book Sale. Children’s books, holiday-themed books, adult fiction and nonfiction books as well as holiday CDs, vinyl records, Blu-rays, DVDs, games and puzzles will be available for purchase. Prices mostly range from $.50 to $2, and cash and credit cards will be accepted for payment. Stop by the front of the library anytime from 1 to 4:30 pm on Friday, November 22 and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, November 23 to stock up on holiday gifts and support the Mission Viejo Library.
In preparation for the sale, the Friends are asking for donations of gently used children’s books, hardback fiction, Blu-Rays, puzzles, and games. Donations are tax deductible and can be dropped off in the bookstore located in the library’s lobby during regular bookstore hours. Bookstore hours are Monday-Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm; Friday 1 to 4:30 pm; and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm.
Children’s Top 3 for November
Storytime, Math Challenge, and Paw Readathon are the top draws for November.
Storytime returns! For the month of November, we will resume our usual storytime schedule Monday through Thursday at 10:30 am and 11:15 am. For toddlers, stop by Mondays and Thursdays, while babies have storytime on Tuesdays, and preschoolers on Wednesdays. Space is limited so please arrive early to grab yourself a teddy bear ticket and reserve your seat!
Gobble up the fun before Thanksgiving with Math Challenge. Help your child’s math skills grow in a fun, fast-paced environment. Parents are welcome to try out their skills, too! Math Challenge takes place Saturday, November 2 at 10:30 am. For more information and to signup, email: libraryprograms@cityofmissionviejo.org.
Finish off November strong with Paw Readathon. On Saturday, November 30 at 11 am, build up your child’s confidence with the help of a furry friend. Kids are invited to strengthen their read-aloud skills by reading to volunteer therapy dogs. Bring a book from home or grab one from the library shelves. Paw Readathon is for ages 6 and older and space is limited. Signup online through our library website.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
The time before a child enters kindergarten is crucial for language and brain development. Reading aloud to your child is one of the best ways to prepare her or him to be a successful student. The 1,000 Books before Kindergarten reading program encourages you to share books with your child and track your reading progress. This program is open to children between the ages of 0-6 and is intended to be completed over the span of years as they grow toward kindergarten.
How to Play
- Visit the children’s area in the library to sign up and pick up a reading log.
- Track your child's reading. Each time you share a book, fill in a circle on your log.
- Each time you read 100 books, you can visit the library for a prize.
- Read 1,000 books and receive a special prize!
Celebrate Jane Austen again with us this year!
The Mission Viejo Library is excited to bring back our Jane Austen Program series starting with two special programs in November.
Join us Thursday, November 21 at 6:30 pm for Jane Austen Trivia. Team up with (or pit yourself against!) lovers and friends in the ultimate test of all things Jane Austen. Costumes are encouraged but not required. This free event is for all ages and takes place inside the library’s Storytime Room.
Don’t know what to wear? No problem! Stop by Saturday afternoon at 2 pm on November 23 for “Get the Austen Look.” We’ll teach you how to fake a Regency outfit with a modern wardrobe and some creative thinking. This free program will include styling tips, a thrift-flip demo, and other useful information to complete your outfit for the ball.
Keep your eyes on the library website for other exciting Jane Austen events coming this December including our Jane Austen Holiday Ball!
Call for Outside Submissions for the Anthology
Non-member submissions for the Mission Viejo Library Writers Group Literary Anthology are still being accepted. If you would like to submit work to the anthology:
- Email libraryprograms@cityofmissionviejo.org to request a copy of the submission guidelines,
- Include your town/city of residence in the email request, since only Orange County, California residents can submit to the anthology,
- Important Note – only those who have requested and received the guidelines by email can submit to the anthology. No over-the-transom submissions will be accepted.
The submission guidelines will tell you all that is required for your submission (they will also tell you how to become a member of the Mission Viejo Library Writers Group.) After carefully reading the guidelines, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. The deadline for submissions to the anthology is December 31.
‘Once Enslaved, Once Slaveholder’ Genealogy Seminar
African American genealogy during or before slavery makes research difficult if not impossible prior to the 1870 US Census. With more than 100 million men, women and children kidnapped from the African landscape, these innocent humans were thrust into a chattel system that promoted the sale and breakup of families, provided no surnames or birthdates, and made it illegal for slaves to read or write. This presentation provides an insight into the “Once Enslaved, Once Slaveholder” lineage and history and their quest to meet and reconcile their common history as a family.
About the speaker: Beverly Bevel has been a family historian for more than 40 years, capturing stories from the elders within her family. A native of Southern California, she is enthusiastic about African American history. Uncovering enslaved family members and bringing their stories to life has been her focus for the past 10 years. With DNA technology, she encourages African Americans to research and reach out to those descendants of once enslaved and slaveholders. Beverly holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from California State University, Long Beach, where she minored in Black Studies. As a retired Human Resources Manager, her experience has been the catalyst for IHG Consulting. She is founder of “The Lewellen Project,” a non-profit organization that provides participants a safe and open environment to promote racial healing and community engagement and fosters an open dialog about race and healing.
This free presentation is at 10 am on Saturday, November 16 at the Mission Viejo Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 27976 Marguerite Parkway. No registration is needed.
The South Orange County Genealogical Society’s genealogy research center located at the Mission Viejo Library is open five days a week with docents available to help you. Visit https://soccgs.org/library-hours for current hours.
Beginning Genealogy Class
As the holidays approach and family gatherings with loved ones draw near, now is the perfect time to learn more about you and your ancestors. Get started with your family research by registering to attend our introductory class “Beginning Genealogy” presented by the South Orange County California Genealogical Society.
Learn about the many resources available to help you trace your family back through generations, while discovering some of the best tools, resources, and methods for uncovering your roots. No prior experience is required, just register before spaces fill up!
This single-session class will take place online via Zoom. Offered free of charge, the online class is from 5:30-7:30 pm on Thursday, November 21. Learn more and register at this link.