Palisades Friends of Library Continues Activities

Friends of the Library continue to be active.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT

The Palisades Library burned in the Palisades Fire, most likely on January 8. It was the beloved center of town, not only for access to books, newspapers, magazines and computers, but also for the wide-variety of programs and events held in the community room.

Laura Schneider, President of the Palisades Friends of the Library was onsite on April 17, when the Army Corps of Engineers were thanked for clearing the debris.

City Librarian John Szabo was asked what it would cost to construct a new library and said they are currently in talks with architects. “There is no estimate of costs, but that the cost of building will be 100 percent reimbursed by FEMA.”

How does one fill a new library with books? Szabo said that they put together “an opening day collection,” through purchases and pointed to Schneider, “We have a wonderful Friends of the Library here we can work with.”

Author Pico Iyer and Tim Schneider discuss his book AFLAME at a April 24 event.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT

The Friends continue their mission of outreach to the community and were at the 1Pali event on April 19, asking people what they loved most about the library and what they hope to see when the library rebuilds.

Schneider said, “We welcome all Palisadians and those with a connection to the library to answer our brief survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19n-bndlBrtVuT1GPHWflAdB5VLBOkqzKwHli7NCszOg/preview  We will ensure that all of the community feedback is shared with LAPL as they make plans to rebuild.”

Friends continue to alert members to events such as an evening with bestselling author Pico Iyer in conversation with Palisadian Tim Schneider on April 24. Iyer discussed his book AFLAME: Learning from Silence at the Santa Monica Public Library.

Iyer’s book was published one week after the Palisades Fire and shares what Iyer learned in the aftermath of losing his family home in a Santa Barbara wildfire and through his numerous stays at a Benedictine monastery in Big Sur.

Palisades residents came to listen to author Pico Iyer discuss his book.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT

According to a book summary, “Iyer connects with inner stillness and joy in his many seasons at the monastery, even as his life is going through constant change: a house burns down, a parent dies, a daughter is diagnosed with cancer. He shares the revelations he experiences, alongside wisdom from other nonmonastics who have learned from adversity and inwardness.

“It was a capacity crowd,” Schneider said, “There were smiles, hugs and tears at both venues.”