The PG Library

The Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, recently invited candidates to share thoughts on our library. Here are mine.

My Family History

In the mid-1960s, my mother put herself through college by working at a campus library. Her closing shifts often meant walking back to the dorms late at night. One evening, after noticing a studious young man in the library night after night, she asked him to walk her home.

Four daughters and more than 40 years of marriage later, the rest is history.

Libraries played an important role in our family’s story. As a newlywed, Mom worked at the University of California-Davis library while my father, whose footsteps I later followed into the Air Force, was stationed at nearby Travis Air Force Base.

Later, Mom worked at a community library in suburban Chicago. I remember visiting her on Friday evenings with Dad and my sister, and Mom’s frustration when we would unwittingly reveal that Dad had let us eat as many M&Ms as we wanted after dinner!

The tradition of service extended across generations.

My paternal grandmother earned a master’s degree in library science in the 1930s, an unusual accomplishment for a woman at the time. She later worked at a community library, while one of my aunts spent decades as a respected research librarian at one of the largest universities in the Midwest.

My own PhD in information sciences from the Naval Postgraduate School pays tribute, in part, to this heritage. Information science bridges library science, which preserves and organizes human knowledge, and computer science, which enables us to access and use that knowledge at dizzying speeds. My dissertation explored how knowledge flows through teams and how those patterns influence performance.

A Cultural Treasure

With that family history, perhaps it’s no surprise that I consider the Pacific Grove Public Library one of our city’s cultural treasures.

Our library’s mission goes well beyond providing access to books and information. It brings people together, connects generations, and helps sustain the sense of community that makes PG special.

I’ve been particularly impressed by the library’s growing role as a civic gathering place. Evening concerts and poetry readings have brought renewed energy to this historic public space, creating opportunities for neighbors to connect around shared interests.

I was also pleased to see the library host the recent community meeting on storm preparedness. Its planned role as a center for community resilience during emergencies reflects how our public institutions can serve residents in new and important ways.

Conversations with members of the Heritage Society have deepened my appreciation for the library’s special collections and historical resources. PG has an extraordinary history, and these collections help preserve the stories that explain how our community became what it is today.

I’m particularly interested in the library’s resources documenting PG’s long-standing leadership in protecting our coastline and bay. Those early efforts helped pave the way for conservation initiatives across California and the West Coast. Our city’s history has much to teach us about the importance of local leadership having impact close and far.

I’m equally appreciative of how the library continues adapting to the changing needs of our residents. Some prefer digital resources, while others value printed books and materials. Recognizing that traditional hours and locations don’t work for everyone, the library is finding thoughtful ways to reach people where they are.

Investing in What Makes PG Special

The partnership between the library and the Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation deserves special recognition. Through sustained support, the PGPL Friends and Foundation has helped make our library such a vibrant part of PG’s civic life.

I believe this partnership also offers a valuable model for supporting other local institutions and causes.

I’ve been speaking with Pacific Grove residents experienced in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy about opportunities to bring additional resources to our community, including through donor-advised funds.

With new leadership arriving at the Community Foundation of Monterey County, this seems like a promising moment to explore how we might strengthen local philanthropic support.

At the same time, philanthropy should complement, not replace, the city’s responsibility to fund essential public services. As a City Council member, I’d support a budget that provides appropriate funding for our library, recognizing both its cultural importance and its expanding role in community life.

Libraries are Civic Infrastructure

Library services benefit residents in practical ways every day. They give children and students access to books, technology, research assistance, and quiet places to learn. They help adults find reliable information, complete applications, develop digital skills, and navigate online services. They provides more seasoned residents with opportunities for connection and continued learning.

A strong library supports lifelong learning, strengthens civic participation, preserves local history, promotes social connection, and improves community resilience. It is also an accessible public space where residents can gather regardless of age, income, or background, contributing to a more informed and connected community.

In short

When I think about libraries, I think about the opportunities they create and the connections they build across.

And, of course, I think about a young woman working the closing shift at a university library who asked a young man to walk her home.

I exist today because of a library.

Disclaimer: Mention of external entities is for biographical purposes only and does not imply endorsement.