Editor, Manteca Bulletin

How exciting that our Library is front and center for public discussion. It has been put aside for much too long. As a long-term member of the Manteca Friends of the Library I can tell you, this topic is on our “Best Seller” list.

Congratulations Dr. Ma’sood Cajee for your tireless work on library advocacy. Thank you Councilman Vince Hernandez for stepping up and advocating a community discussion on Manteca’s library needs. Thank you Benjamin Cantu for your comments on your desire to improve our library system.

The Manteca Friends of the Library invite each of you to membership.

We hope you and other interested Mantecans will join us for our Quarterly meeting on July 22, 2015 at 9:15 am at the Manteca Public Library.

There are many silent Mantecans (some are probably nose deep in a book or an e-book) who want our library system improved.

The Manteca Parks and Recreation Department held their three Master Plan Workshops in April and May. I was able to attend each of them. Manteca’s Public Library and Library Park were brought up in multiple contexts at each meeting. There are so many possibilities. Let’s move forward!

For the future, our library needs to adapt and grow with the exciting current trends in libraries. We must commit to improve our 1960s library model. Libraries are much more than books on shelves today. They serve as meeting places. They offer help for research or job search. You can learn computer code. You can take your preschooler for story time. You will be amazed at the diversity of attractions to our library. Ask our librarian.

Councilman Hernandez, Dr. Cajee, and Mr. Cantu I hope you will lead Mantecans into a comprehensive discussion about the future vision of libraries in Manteca.



Tom & Gayl Wilson

Manteca