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Seaside library adds Mango Languages, expands news databases and reports busy summer programs
Summary
At its July meeting the Seaside Library Board said it added Mango Languages (including an ASL track), expanded NewsBank and related databases giving patrons online access to publications such as the New York Times, and reported increased summer program registrations and intern support.
The board chair reported that the Seaside Library has added Mango Languages — including an American Sign Language (ASL) option — and expanded its NewsBank and research subscriptions to give patrons online access to national and local newspapers.
"We've added Mango Languages," the chair said, noting the library paid a small premium so "we have the ASL version," and that the Mango subscription costs "about $1,500 for the year." Staff said the NewsBank expansion gives on‑site and off‑site access to titles including the New York Times and local papers, and that the library also added Access World News and a Heritage Hub resource for obituary and local-history searches.
The announcement came alongside programming updates: staff recapped a June kickoff event and a Puzzle Palooza (winning times were reported under an hour, with one roughly 43–46 minutes), a family bingo night and ongoing summer-reading programming. Board members noted that at the halfway point of summer reading the library had registrations similar to last year and that adult registration has roughly doubled this season.
Staff described additional supports: three interns are helping with programming — including a Seaside High senior working on a Pacifica project — and the Seaside Library Friends and Foundation is formalizing a process to route donated books through the foundation before distribution. The foundation reported it has spent about $3,600 on library programs so far this fiscal year.
Board members discussed outreach plans to promote the new digital services, including linking the resources under services → digital resources on the library website and sharing them with the school district and homeschool families.
The library will ask patrons to try subscriptions before cancelling personal accounts so they can confirm off‑site access; staff said they plan to keep Mango and observe usage before deciding on renewals.
