We Mobbed!

Yesterday, library staff members took to the streets to celebrate our upcoming Citywide Reads program. Armed with signs, drums, free copies of The Shadow Catcher, and resource guides, we headed to the Third Street Promenade. We gave away 40 copies of the novel within 20 minutes and then gathered for a group read-aloud at noon. Shortly after, in the tradition of a flash mob, we disappeared, hopefully leaving behind some community members who are excited about Citywide Reads. Many thanks to the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library for providing the copies of the novel and for the printing of the resource guide.

Book Mob!

We are having a book mob to celebrate Citywide Reads!

We'll meet at the Third Street Promenade, just south of the Farmers Market, at 12 noon on Wednesday, February 25. Free copies of The Shadow Catcher will be given away and we'll have a simultaneous group read-aloud.

The book mob is based on the concept of a flash mob - a group of people who gather together suddenly and perform an unusual action.

Don't miss the fun!

Book Discussion Dates

We had our training for our volunteer book discussion leaders for The Shadow Catcher and we are excited to have such an enthusiastic group! We hope you can attend at least one of the following book discussions, all led by volunteers from your community. No registration required.

· Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 pm Main Library Multipurpose Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
· Monday, March 9 at 2:00 pm Emeritus College, Room 407, 1227 2nd Street
· Saturday, March 14 at 10:30 am Café Bolivar, 1741 Ocean Park Boulevard (no permit required for Saturday parking)
· Tuesday, March 17 at 7:00 pm Barnes & Noble, 1201 3rd Street Promenade
· Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00 pm Montana Avenue Branch Library, 1704 Montana Avenue
· Saturday, March 21 at 11:00 am Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd.
· Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 pm Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 829 Wilshire Blvd.
· Saturday, March 28 at 1:00 pm California Heritage Museum Lawn, 2612 Main Street
· Saturday, April 4 at 11:00 am Main Library Multipurpose Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.

See you there!

Los Angeles as Literature Panelists Chosen

Writer and Los Angeles Times Editor David Ulin will moderate a panel discussion with three local authors on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Main Library's MLK Jr. Auditorium.

Panelists will discuss Los Angeles' various incarnations in literature, in both a contemporary and historical context. Learn of Citywide Reads author Marianne Wiggins’ place in the canon of fiction about Los Angeles.

Panelists include young adult writer and author of Beige Cecil Castellucci, author of the Ivan Monk mystery series Gary Phillips, and Nina Revoyr, novelist and author of The Age of Dreaming.

Complimentary Copies Are Coming February 17!

On Tuesday, February 17, all Santa Monica Public Libraries will have free copies of Marianne Wiggins' The Shadow Catcher for individuals who want to participate in Citywide Reads. At the Main Library, the books will be available at the first floor Information Desk. There is a limit of one book per person.

In the meantime, there are dozens of copies in the collection and the resource guide is now available at all branches and online at www.smpl.org.