Libraries benefit from comedy show
By DANIEL ARCHULETA Managing Editor
DOWNTOWN A prominent comedienne walks into a book convention and asks a librarian, “What can I do for you?” The librarian responds, “Make me laugh.”
No this isn’t a tired Vaudeville gag, it really happened. Santa Monica-based comedienne Paula Poundstone was first introduced to the Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) during a show at a literary convention a couple of years back and that union has since helped raise funds for public libraries across the country.
“People were falling off their chairs during her performance,” said Beth Nawalinski, FOLUSA’s marketing and public relations coordinator. “She had such a great time that a couple of weeks [after the convention] her manager contacted us saying [Paula] wanted to work with us.”
The two are again teaming up for a comedy show Saturday at the Wadsworth Theatre in West Los Angeles.
The local chapter of FOLUSA, the Friends of the Westwood Public Library, is using the opportunity to help spread the word about the organization and raise funds through the sale of Poundstone’s book, “There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say.” She will also make herself available after the show to sign copies of her work.
“I had always been under the misguided belief that taxes paid for all the library’s stuff, which isn’t true,” Poundstone said. “[FOLUSA] often brings their literature to my shows and it gives them a chance to recruit volunteers. Most of us are aware that volunteering is an enriching thing to do.”
Poundstone, who has three children who attend public schools in Santa Monica, said that it was an easy decision to lend a hand to FOLUSA’s cause.
She often takes her children to local public libraries and figured it was the least she could do to give back to an institution that has enriched the lives of her family.
“When my kid was in first grade, he thought that the thing that helped him learn to read was the summer reading program at the [Santa Monica] library,” she said. “Having benefited from [public libraries], it just seemed like a nice partnership. It was something I didn’t mind helping with.”
Poundstone has done a number of benefit shows, but neither her nor officials with FOLUSA were sure as to just how many.
A total fundraising tally is hard to come by as well considering that local chapters reap the financial benefits from Poundstone’s performances.
“Regardless of the amount of money, it is really about raising awareness of the Friends of Libraries,” Nawalinski said. “Getting new members is the long-term benefit of doing this.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 12, 2008. Read the original PDF.