Librarian Musings!
Monterey County Free Libraries
5 Things for April from Monterey County Free Libraries
Post Date: 03/25/2026 11:45 AM
The fourth month of the year, April, is believed to be derived from the Latin “aperire,” meaning “to open,” representing spring and the blossoming of flowers and possibilities.
April opens up many possibilities at MCFL, where we celebrate National Poetry Month, and equally as notable, National Library Week. This month we are also launching our One Book, One Coast community reading program. The book everyone is reading is, They Called Us Enemy by George Takei; a graphic novel available online or in print. Ask at your library for details about book clubs and programs.
If poetry is your passion, the library is your destination! You can find a plethora of poetry books on the shelves. All month long, during National Poetry Month, your library branches may have poems scattered on the tables or on shelf ends to inspire a love of poetry. Look for poetry activities at your local library, like “Black-Out Poetry” where you black out words on a page from a discarded novel to create a unique poem.
National Library Week, is celebrated from April 19 through April 25, to recognize libraries, bookmobiles and library workers! The theme is “Find Your Joy.” Anyone who spends time in libraries knows that libraries are places of exploration, discovery, and joy. Whether your passion is reading, gardening, 3-D printing or cooking, you can find books, programs and resources to satisfy your curiosity.
We also recognize Arab American Heritage Month in April and will highlight books by Arab American authors with displays in the branches and on social media. Look for the “Author of the Week” posts on social media and posts of books by Arab American Authors on Libby. How about challenging yourself to read a book by an Arab American author this month?
In honor of Earth Day on April 22, MCFL will feature the online resource Greenfile from EBSCO which has articles about the human impact on the environment. Be sure to also check National Geographic Kids online, to explore and celebrate the natural world.
At the end of April, all our branches will recognize Dia de los Ninos or Children’s Day with activities or craft programs. Dia de los Ninos is recognized on April 30 each year to celebrate children, reading and the importance of literacy. Ask at your local library what days they will host programs for this special day.
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eMCFL
Instagram: @e_mcfl
TikTok: mclibraries
Visit: MCFL Virtual Programs on YouTube
For more information contact:
Be Astengo astengobc@co.monterey.ca.us 831-884-4370
Alison Day dayaj1@co.monterey.ca.us 831-883-7542
5 Things for April
“Even though I work during the summers, I feel like I'm on vacation whenever I read a book or listen to an audiobook.”
-Be Astengo, Managing Librarian
Summer Reading Recommendations - You can check these books out at your local library:
1. The Paris Novel (Ruth Reichl) transports you to Paris in the 1980s, where you can spend some time in the City of Lights.
2. The Women (Kristen Hannah) takes place in San Diego and Vietnam in the late 1960s, a time in history that many of us are familiar with but with a very different perspective.
3. Calamity of Souls (David Baldacci) is set in a Southern Virginia town in 1968 where lawyers unravel a murder mystery to save their client.
If you have travel plans or plan to “staycation” in the comfort of your home this summer, take a vacation with a book.
To read or to listen, that is the question!
I confess that today, I listen to more books than I read. It’s a habit that I started early in my career as a librarian, during my commute to work when I was trying to read as broadly as I could in the library collection. For books that were not my favorite genre, I found listening was easier than reading. Back then, books were on cassettes! Reader’s Advisory is one of my favorite parts of my job, and I love to hear what others are reading and let them know about a few books that I’ve read and loved. Reading or listening broadly allows me to know more about genres of the collection that I don’t often read, like Science Fiction or Horror.
Now, we have so many options for reading and listening to books that I always have at least two books at my fingertips and a large pile of TBRs (To Be Read). Print books are a familiar comfort and a great way to read off-screen. Graphic novels, which are super popular with teens and tweens, are a great way to get art and literature in one place. Everyone who signs up for Summer Reading Club gets a free print book, and we have selections for all ages.
I use Libby most frequently and have for many years. MCFL has a broad selection of ebooks and audiobooks, and I can find something to read quickly, literally at my fingertips. I also use Palace Project, which was launched a few years ago through funding from the California State Library and offers another vast library of ebooks and audiobooks on a smartphone app, again, at my fingertips.
Beyond the Local Library
Happy Reading!
As Stephen King says, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
More Ways to Listen
Our circulation records show that Playaways, another audiobook format, is very popular, especially among youth. For those who don’t have smartphones, a Playaway is a compact way to listen to an audiobook on a device smaller than most cell phones. You can put it in your pocket and take a walk.