MOORPARK : 9 Students Feted for Effort to Expand Library

Tara Provencher, a fourth-grade student at Flory School in Moorpark, whispered to her friend Jihae Simmons that her cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

The pair, along with seven other Moorpark students, smiled broadly as they were awarded certificates and savings bonds from County Supervisor Vicky Howard on Thursday. They each won awards for their posters and essays to promote interest in a plan to expand the Moorpark Library.

“Books are your ticket to another world,” wrote Ryan Harikul, a sixth-grader who won the $100 grand prize for the best essay. “I just pretended I was talking to someone, telling them how important the library is,” said Ryan, who likes to read books by C. S. Lewis and write short stories in his spare time.

His mother did not know about the contest until her son told her that he had won.

“He’s gotten praise for writing in the past but never anything like this,” Robbin Harikul said.

The contest was created to increase interest in a telethon May 3 to raise money for the library expansion.

“Moorpark needs a better library,” Howard told the nine youths before she handed them their prizes. “It’s important. I know I spent a lot of time in the library as a youngster, as I’m sure some of you do.”

Howard said state budget cuts have forced Ventura County to cut the library budget by almost 40%, while the growing community has demanded that the library keep pace.

Despite a county pledge for a $260,000 contribution toward the expansion and a city pledge for another $65,000, Howard said the library would still be short by nearly $80,000.

Organizers hope that the telethon will make up the shortfall.

Howard said memorabilia donated by local celebrities, including Larry Hagman, Tom Selleck and Peter Strauss, will be auctioned during the televised event. Former President Ronald Reagan will also show his support with a videotaped statement that will be broadcast.