Cindy Sekkel’s been volunteering for two years with the Felton Library Friends, and even sponsored the new library’s fireplace with her husband.
On Nov. 27, amidst the fray of shoppers flipping through titles at the group’s book sale, the 70-year-old Ben Lomond resident was pleased to see such enthusiasm for reading.
“We want to encourage community and conversation,” she said, adding her Rotary Club supported the bridge in the park outside. “You should have seen it earlier.”
She says the good turnout was an encouraging sign.
“You need public libraries,” she said. “There’s just something peaceful and tactile about having a book in your hands.”
Plus, books are immune to PG&E power outages, Sekkel opined.
“If you don’t have electricity—who cares?” she said.
Fellow Ben Lomond local Tina Noland, 68, was on the hunt for cookbooks, mysteries, crafting titles and women’s literature (“Why do they call it ‘chick lit?’” she wondered aloud.)
“I think it’s great,” she said. “I like to read.”
Jeni Englander, 54, of Aptos, said she was happy to come up to San Lorenzo Valley for the fundraiser.
“I will never miss a book sale within driving distance,” she said, noting this pastime had been on pause during the pandemic. “I’m sort of getting back into the swing.”
She’d already selected so many items—10 or so—she had to set them down while stocking up on more.
“I’m just a bookophile,” she said, adding she just found a present for a loved one. “I’m surprised it’s not more crowded.”
Michelle Mosher, 78, treasurer of Felton Library Friends, said the commerce was for a good cause.
“The money that we raise goes to support the library and the parks,” she said. “These are all books that were donated to the library in the past.”
The group was thrilled with the response.
“People have been going out with stacks of books,” she said. “I think it’s a really positive sign.”
The group’s Art Curation Team recently mounted an exhibit of animal bones at the Felton branch. And Mosher points out a community-energizing art project from Felton artist Stacy Monowitz on the library’s windows that’s already engaged 452 participants.
The exhibit, titled “glow: a collaborative community art project,” ended up looking like tissue-paper stained glass.
“We helped finance this,” Mosher said, adding the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County was also involved and Lenz Arts even donated the matting almost for free. “It’s totally gorgeous.”
Manila envelopes containing sheets of colored tissue paper were distributed, along with directions instructing participants to “reflect on the good things in your life, then imagine a design to illuminate your thoughts.”
Now the group is allowing people who make a donation to take home a panel when the exhibition is finished on Jan. 13.
A positive tone permeates the work, she muses, adding it looks “really cool” at night.
And given that the library is sometimes open until 7pm, Monday-Thursday (and until 5pm Friday-Sunday), it’s not just library staff who can see this glow.
According to the group’s Nov. 11 meeting notes, it begins 2022 with a balance of $66,564. Voting members unanimously approved $10,100 in spending.
After the dust had settled and supporters were curled up in front of the fireplace with their literary finds, Felton Library Friends had brought in $1,400 from the book sale.
