625 Pacific St., Monterey

646-3932,

www.monterey.org

This prize comes on account of a deep stock of books, movies, magazines, Internet stations and e-materials; its cozy reading nooks and eager support staff; its community meeting rooms; its self-checkout; and local history archive room. Though it’s pretty up on today’s technology, it’s long on history: It was founded in 1849. Its mission then: “afford amusement, entertainment, and profit to a large class of people who, without its aid, would waste their time in frivolities.” Tell that to the Teen Zone.