Friends of the Libraries: Summer means reading program and book sale
For your weekend plans be sure to program a stop at the book sale on Saturday and Sunday at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library, 1855 Park Ave., Costa Mesa.
On Saturday, the sale will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with most books priced from 50 cents to $1. On Sunday, the sale will continue from noon to 3 p.m. with books priced at a dollar per bag (bags provided).
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Summer Reading Program continues
The Summer Reading Program for children continues till the end of the month at the Mesa Verde and Costa Mesa Donald Dungan libraries. These programs, of course, are free.
At 1 p.m. Tuesday, Mark Wenzel brings the silent world of the mime artist to the Mesa Verde Library, at 2969 Mesa Verde Drive East, Costa Mesa. All ages will enjoy his performance of this age-old art form.
Then, at 1 p.m. July 24 at Mesa Verde, the Swazzle Puppet Show will tell the story of a young boy who dreams of fantastic, brightly-colored animals. When he wakes up, he realizes that he must find a way to bring them to life. This stunning bi-lingual musical puppet show is sure to charm children as well as their parents.
Both programs will take place on the grass outside.
The next Summer Reading Program at the Donald Dungan Library will take place at 11 a.m. July 16, when Craig Newton’s “Really Big Music Show” will be on stage. Performer-singer-songwriter Newton uses a variety of instruments to introduce music to his audiences.
Then at 11 a.m. July 23, Lord Rusty’s Dream of Times Past Renaissance Show will feature a blend of juggling, props, magic, music, story and audience involvement to bring a medieval event to life.
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Getting to Understand Libraries
I have been researching and trying to understand libraries and the services they provide. I found an article and a book on the Internet that you may enjoy reading.
Neither of them seems to be available in the Orange County Public Library collection. The first is “Keeping the Faith: The Public Library’s Commitment to Adult Education, 1950- 2002” by Brenda Weeks Coleman. It discusses how the conception of library adult education has evolved over the years, even though the mission has been to serve as a means of self-education to enable adults to better perform their roles as workers, parents and citizens.
The second one, “Female Advocacy and Harmonious Voices: Publishing for Children in the United States” by Kay E. Vandergrift, is about children’s services. I was surprised to find out that the first libraries didn’t serve children.
In fact, children were not allowed. And when children were let in, it was only after they were about 9 years old. Eventually there were libraries specifically serving children, and children’s departments that we know today. But think of how far libraries have come. Children’s services for even very young toddlers are now an important part of every public library.
If you want to read either of these books, look them up by the title or author. I think you will enjoy reading them.
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Bookmobiles in Costa Mesa
When Costa Mesa’s population went from 11,844 in 1950 to 65,300 in 1965, the city was served by just one small library in the old downtown on Center Street. As the northern part of the city mushroomed with new residential development, the downtown library could no longer handle all the business.
During that time, the Orange County Public Libraries augmented branch services with bookmobile services. Do you suppose there is anyone still in town that remembers these bookmobiles in our town?
By 1965 another branch library — the Mesa Verde Library — was built and the bookmobiles became a thing of the past.
MARY ELLEN GODDARD produced this column on behalf of the Friends of Costa Mesa Libraries, the Costa Mesa Library Foundation and the three Costa Mesa branches of the Orange County Public Libraries.