WORDS AND IMAGES : Columbus Contest : Students are invited to write about American Indians in the Conejo Valley before explorers arrived.

The library I loitered in as a kid was dark, musty, quiet and of course the repository of mysteries and magic waiting to be discovered. Today, many public libraries in the county are livelier centers of intellectual stimulation, providing entertainment for both children and adults. Often sponsored and funded by Friends of the Library, reading and storytelling programs, concerts, lectures, films, art exhibits and historical observances are continuing events.

Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library and the Conejo Valley Historical Society are sponsoring a Christopher Columbus Essay Contest to acknowledge the 500th anniversary of the first voyage by Columbus to America in October 1492.

Students of the Conejo Valley Unified School District and private schools within the city of Thousand Oaks are eligible to compete in either the junior essay (grades 1 through 6) or senior essay (grades 7 through 12). Students will be required to research and write about American Indians who lived in the Conejo Valley before the arrival of explorers and settlers from Europe. The submission deadline is Sept. 15. Winners will receive cash awards. Detailed contest rules are available in the library at 1401 E. Janss Road or call 498-7722 for information.

“Dinosaur Hunters” is the Family Film feature at 6:30 tonight in the Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme.

“Around the World with ‘Uncle Ruthie’ Buell,’ ” KPFK radio storyteller, is a concert for the whole family scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. in the Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura.

Novelist and syndicated book reviewer Carolyn See will talk about “Writing to Change History” as guest speaker at the Ventura County Writers Club Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The author of “Mothers, Daughters,” “Rhine Maidens,” “Golden Days” and her latest novel, “Making History,” also writes historical novels as Monica Highland with daughter Lisa See and companion John Espey. See never disappoints when she lectures on the writing process and the publishing business. The club’s monthly evening meetings are held at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1101 Ponderosa St., Camarillo. Non-member guest fee is $4. Call 642-6130 for details.

One more note on Christopher Columbus: Turner Home Entertainment has just issued Hanna-Barbera’s “We Think the World Is Round,” a 30-minute animated music video for kids that looks at Columbus’ voyage through the “eyes” of his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. The video features the voices of Cesar Romero, Janis Paige, Sidney Miller and Sterling Holloway. The little kids should love this one.