President's Message Page

President's Message

President's Message
By Sharon Zeitlin

On behalf of the Culver City Friends of the Library, I invite you to participate in the second annual Culver City Reads program. Culver City Reads is a community-wide reading celebration that encourages people of all ages throughout Culver City to read a very special book together. It is designed to broaden one's appreciation of reading, to stimulate discussions among family and friends, and to promote understanding of other people's viewpoints. Building a community of readers is essential to a vibrant and informed community and Culver City Reads provides a valuable forum in which we can all come together to share our thinking about important issues.

The Friends introduced this program last year with the classic book "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. Due to the excitement generated from this program, we have made it an annual event. This year, based on input from the community, everyone is reading "Peter Pan," the timeless story of adventure and magic by J.M. Barrie. Important themes of friendship, courage, imagination, and loyalty are expressed throughout this book that have great relevance to us as residents of Culver City and as citizens of the world.

We have planned a series of exciting events and activities revolving around this book to take place over the summer months. Events include special story times and craft programs for children, a book discussion group for adults, a book discussion group for teens, a Peter Pan coloring contest, a "Why I Want to Grow Up in Culver City" essay contest, a "Peter Pan, Pirates and Pixies: Costume Ball and Treasure Hunt" fundraiser in the historic Culver Hotel, a window decorating contest for local businesses, Peter Pan menu items at local food establishments, a Peter Pan costume parade and contest, drawings for great prizes, an "Under the Stars" screening of the popular family film "Peter Pan" from Universal Pictures at Veterans Park, and more! There will be special appearances by Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and other characters from the book, sure to entertain and amaze both children and adults. There will be several opportunities for photos and book signings with these wonderful characters. These events will help children and adults alike see how books come alive and make this year's Culver City Reads program one to remember. The Schedule of Events, available on the Friends' website, is full of pixies, pirates and possibilities, so be sure to mark the dates on your calendar.

I welcome you to get involved in this community-wide reading celebration and I look forward to seeing you, your family and your friends at these exciting summer events!