These delicious treats and more are served daily, except Sundays, at the San Benito Public Library’s Bookmark Café. (Staff photos by Heather Cathleen Cox)
By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Nothing goes better with a good book than a great cup of something delicious, at least, that’s how those affiliated with Bookmark Café, located in the San Benito Public Library, feel.
Library Director and café manager Gerardo Salazar explained that this past October marked the café’s second year in operation. “It was my idea to get the café up and going,” said Salazar.
Salazar mentioned that the idea came from time spent working at other libraries, where he said, “The library café is a growing concept.” The juxtaposition of café and coffee makes sense if you think about it. For instance, Salazar explained that for parents who have children conducting research, a trip to the library might not be swift. For such individuals, Bookmark Café makes it possible to read a free magazine and enjoy a gourmet coffee drink or small meal while they wait.
The café menu includes 12 gourmet hot drinks, from espresso shots to cappuccinos, mochas, lattes, hot chocolate and chai tea lattes. Additionally, they sell bottled beverages, fountain drinks and juices which when paired with a delicious pastry or freshly baked cookie certainly put a new spin on a trip to the library.
Pastries include at least three varieties of cookies; blueberry, chocolate and banana nut muffins; sliced cheesecake; assorted flavors of bundt cake; and decadent chocolate brownies. For only $2.25 a pop, this is a price almost anyone can afford, at least in the instance of a splurge. Cookies are only $1.25.
If you’re just in the mood for a quick snack like a pack of skittles or perhaps a yummy Snickers bar, you can make such a purchase at the café. If you’re hungrier, try their Angus beef cheeseburger, all beef hotdogs or a hot personal pepperoni pizza. Entrees are all less than $3.00.
For the true café experience, Salazar invites patrons to try the frappes. With four fantastic flavors from which to choose, there’s sure to be a flavor to suit each specific palate. Bookmark Café even offers a specialty multi-vitamin scoop to help meet your daily vitamin needs, which can be blended into any Frapp or smoothie for an extra cost. Salazar explained that he enjoys being able to provide gourmet-type products to patrons for a nominal charge. He said, “We use all café essentials products, which are high-end and come from a company in California.”
The café serves a lunch crowd each day as well as a rush around 2-3 p.m. and another after school.
Bookmark Café is more of an extension of services the library offers, rather than a source of income. Salazar said the café pays for itself, and revenues received are recycled back into the café to purchase products and items of need. “All of our prices are set low,” said Salazar. He added, “We’re a library first. The café is an addition, to supplement time spent here.”
Salazar thanks the City of San Benito, who he said has provided its full support to the café since its time of origin. “Bookmark Café was established with full support from city staff, City Manager Manuel Lara and Mayor Joe Hernandez.”
“I feel like it’s a really good thing for the city,” said Salazar of the café. Salazar has obtained his Masters of Library Science and has over 10 combined years of experience working for libraries in the state. He shared that San Benito Public Library serves a community of over 33,000 people and the library has at least 33,000 books, over 45 magazine subscriptions and six newspaper subscriptions. While individuals enjoy a lovely lunch, snack or beverage from Bookmark Café, they can partake of free wireless internet, request an item available through a program called library share or even rent a movie.
The café is open during normal library hours which are as follows: Monday thru Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
I ate a personal pepperoni pizza, a white chocolate macadamia cookie and tried the Chai Latte and Ja Mocha Frapp. All are highly advisable, but my favorite…the white chocolate macadamia nut cookie. On that note, until next time dear ones, let’s keep it in good taste!
Read this story in the Dec. 5 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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