The Friends of the Carmel Valley Library supports and enhances the library's vital role in our community.
The Carmel Valley Library has a bucolic patio with colorful chairs, umbrellas, and a small garden—but one large grey wall has long begged for attention. In 2023, the Friends of the Carmel Valley Library began a collaboration with the Carmel High School Visual Arts program to design a mural that could bring beauty, meaning, and learning to that space. The mural's familiar allegories—such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle resting on a fallen buckeye—resonate with both children and adults. It’s designed to spark curiosity, support early literacy, and create opportunities for teaching moments led by library staff. Funds raised through Monterey County Gives will support the mural’s installation and weather protection, provide a donation to the student artists' program, fund a public unveiling event, and help develop educational tools that allow the mural to live on as an interactive and meaningful resource for years to come.
The Friends of the Carmel Valley Library directly benefit the Carmel Valley community, a rural area within Monterey County that depends on the library as a vital hub for education, connection, and enrichment. Our work enhances the library’s ability to serve people of all ages by funding programs that go beyond the scope of county support. We sponsor children’s activities, teen and adult learning opportunities, technology access, and cultural events including our monthly First Saturday Lecture Series. While our primary impact is in Carmel Valley, our programs often draw visitors from neighboring communities, extending our reach and contributing to the cultural and educational fabric of Monterey County as a whole.
When I was little, my parents took me to Story Time and Makerspace Fairs at the Carmel Valley Library. Once I learned to read, I’d leave with stacks of books so tall I could barely carry them. During the COVID shutdown, the library supported families like mine by handing out food and activity kits. This meant a lot to me. I’ve grown up with library programs, but I didn’t fully appreciate how much work went into them until I started volunteering as a freshman. I helped prepare for Makerspace Fairs and assembled countless take-home kits--many of the same things I once looked forward to receiving. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of how committed the library is to being more than just a place to borrow books. It’s a true community space: welcoming, creative, and generous. I’m forever grateful to have grown up with it in my life.
- Elizabeth Chan, Carmel Valley
