For the Love of Books
When Tish Butler and Richard Carlson made their first, exploratory visit to The Gardens, Tish was sold the minute she stepped into the library. “That and the trees, and I knew this was the place for me.” Little did she know then that the 9,000-volume library was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the abundance of literary interests at the Gardens. For residents who embrace, in equal measure, a passion for learning and discovery, and an eagerness to share their own interests and expertise with others, literature – the consumption, critique and creation of – is an ever-present part of life at the Gardens.
As Tish quickly discovered, the crown jewel of this love of the written word is the resident-staffed and managed library – an extraordinary amenity for residents, when measured by any standard. Long a fixture of the Gardens, the library was transformed into a professional-caliber resource in 1988. A retired librarian, newly arrived at the Gardens, saw a gem within the loosely assembled, then-3,000-volume collection. With her guidance, a legion of resident volunteers inventoried and cataloged every title, creating a first-class library for residents that has grown to more than 9,000 titles, including 170 books penned by residents. That same combination of bibliophiles and professional librarians comprises the volunteer team that continues to ensure re
sidents have a satisfying experience when they step inside the spacious library.
The library was completely volunteer-run until 2005, when Library Services Coordinator Bridgette Evangelista was hired to assist on a parttime basis. “This is definitely the residents’ library. I’m here to help fill in any gaps, but they have it so well organized,” she says. Currently, 45 volunteers support the library operations, including three former librarians: Mary Pierson, Nancy Waldman and Eiko Tomiyasu. Some of the volunteers serve on the Library Committee, which Tish now chairs, and the Book Selection Committee. Others run the day-to-day operations of the library with the oversight of two volunteer supervisors.
Jay Labinger is a Gardens resident, he was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Jay received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College. He attended Harvard University where he earned a Ph.D. He was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame. His career has included positions with Occidental Research Corporation & Atlantic Richfield. He is the Administrator of Beckman Institute at the California Institute of Technology as well as a Faculty Associate in the Chemistry Department. He enjoys reading, playing the piano, tennis and traveling. He has published books on the history of chemistry, sociology of science and literature & science. Here at the Gardens, Jay is part of the Conservation & Sustainability Committee the Green Fund as well as many other groups through the Gardens Club.
Jane Hurd is a Gardens resident, she was born & raised in a small town in Arkansas. After she received her BA from the University of Arkansas she moved to California and taught seventh grade English in Porterville CA. After two years she moved to Los Angeles and worked for the Department of Health Services and pursued a master’s degree in public administration from USC. She served as CEO for two Los Angeles area hospitals. She continues to consult as an executive coach for CEOs of healthcare companies. She has served on several boards including Mutual of America Insurance Company, YMCA of Metropolitan LA, LA Visiting Nurses Association and Inland Empire Girl Scouts. Jane is an award-winning author and plays several musical instruments. Here at the Gardens, Jane is part of the newly formed Bequest Committee, as well as many other groups through the Gardens Club.
