community news briefs:

Santa Monica Public Library Provides Text Messaging Quick Answer Service People are now generating more text messages than cell phone calls. In response, librarians are taking their professional services to the texters. Santa Monica Public Library customers can now text a question to 309.222.7740. A librarian will respond within minutes. The service is free of charge, although standard text messaging rates apply. The service is staffed by librarians from across the country. The service, named Text 4 Answers, is the first collaborative text messaging reference service operated by libraries. Led by the Alliance Library System of Illinois, California partners include Santa Monica Public Library, Buena Park Library District, Contra Costa County Public Library, Sacramento Public Library, and San Jose State University’s Graduate School of Library.“Text reference service is the next big thing to hit libraries,” says Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System. “It is important because it augments traditional core reference services and meets library customers where they live.”The hours of service for the pilot project are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.Santa Monica customers should include the code SMP in their text messages. To learn more about Santa Monica Public Library’s role in this project, contact Wright Rix at 310.458.8271. For more about the collaborative project, visit http://www.myinfoquest.info. * * * *Assemblywoman Brownley Named Recyclers’ Legislator of the YearAssemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica, has been named 2009 Legislator of the Year by Californians Against Waste for her efforts to reduce pollution and promote recycling.Assemblywoman Brownley accepted the award Tuesday night during the organization’s 32nd annual birthday bash.In presenting the award, Californians Against Waste cited Assemblywoman Brownley’s longstanding battle against pollution and her efforts to protect the environment from a district that spans more than 70 miles of coastline and fragile wetlands.“We would like to recognize you and your efforts on AB 2505 and AB 1329 to remove barriers to plastic container recycling, your efforts to reduce plastic bag litter and ocean pollution with AB 2058 and AB 68, your efforts on electronic waste recycling policy, as well as your consistent support as a member of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee,” said Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste, in a letter to Assemblywoman Brownley. This year, she has introduced bills to limit waste from non-recyclable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and encourage consumers to switch from single-use plastic and paper bags to reusable totes for carrying groceries and drug-store sundries. Californians Against Waste is a non-profit environmental research and advocacy organization working to reduce pollution and protect the environment by curtailing waste and promoting recycling.