Fiesta, Lectures, Banquet Set for National Library Week

This is National Library Week, April 22-28, under the theme “Reach for a Star--Ask a Librarian.” Libraries throughout Los Angeles County and the nation are asking residents to celebrate by reading a book. Here is a list of other activities being held to celebrate the week:

Commerce--The Commerce Public Library will celebrate with its annual fiesta from 2 to 4 p.m. today featuring refreshments, door prizes and entertainment. There also will be two workshops for parents to help improve their children’s reading ability and work performance at school. “Raising a Reader,” a workshop that shows how to make reading fun through storytelling, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. “School Success,” a workshop that shows how to make school an exciting, positive experience, will be held at the same time Tuesday. All three activities will be at the Central Library, 5655 Jillson Ave., Commerce. For more information, call 722-6660 for the fiesta or 722-7323 for the workshops.

Long Beach--The Long Beach Public Library will sponsor a “Readers and Writers” free lecture series at the El Dorado Branch Library, 2900 Studebaker Road, Long Beach. David Nava Monreal, three-time winner of the UC Irvine Chicano Literary Contest, will discuss how to avoid writer’s block at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Jo-Ann Mapson, winner of the 1986 California Short Story Competition, will discuss her writing and read one of her short stories at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Dr. Alejandro Morales, author and publisher, will speak at 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 429-1814.

Norwalk--Master storytellers Harlan Ellison, a Hugo Award and Nebula Award winner, and Ross Thomas, author of “The Fourth Durango,” will be the featured speakers at the Los Angeles County Public Library’s annual banquet for library staff members and supporters. The banquet will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Sheraton Norwalk Hotel, 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk. For more information, call 940-8458.

Santa Fe Springs--Author and humorist Art Linkletter will speak at the Santa Fe Springs Friends of the Library luncheon at noon Thursday at the Clarke Estate, 10211 Pioneer Blvd., Santa Fe Springs. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through Monday at the Santa Fe Springs Library, 11700 Telegraph Road, or from any Friends of the Library member. For more information, call the Library at 868-7738.