Marble Expert Beam to Address Aficionados of the Timeless Toy : Young and old alike will enjoy insider’s look at American favorite, now a hot collector’s item, at Adventures for Kids.

When you were a kid, did you play with marbles? Did you know that there are at least nine major marble clubs located throughout the United States? Would you like to recover some marble memories? Well, grab hold of the youngsters and take them to Adventures for Kids at 10 a.m. Saturday. Joan Beam, whose marbles are featured in Marilyn Barrett’s lavishly illustrated book “Aggies, Immies, Shooters and Swirls,” will be at the bookstore to talk to collectors and anyone who loves to play with marbles. The little glass balls are now a hot collector’s item. Some rare marbles have fetched thousands of dollars. Barrett, a Los Angeles photographer includes in her book all kinds of marble lore, their history and how they are made. Marble Mania happens at 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. The Southern California Marble Collectors Society mailing address is P.O. Box 84179, Los Angeles 90073.

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Incidentally, 10% of any purchase made at Adventures for Kids during August, which is Library Support Month, will be credited to the public or school library of your choice. Last year the bookstore donated over $3,000 in books to local libraries.

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The Newbury Park Library once again is hosting a Used Book Sale & Book Donation Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on the sidewalk outside the library at 2331 Borchard Road. For details call Barb Wilson at 493-2179.

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Gar Anthony Haywood will sign “Going Nowhere Fast” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Nancy Taylor Rosenberg, a former probation officer, returns to the scene of the many crimes she investigated for the Ventura Superior Court to sign her third novel, “First Offense,” which features the sexy, strident, gutsy characters many readers seem to love. She will be in the Ventura Bookstore at 6 p.m. Saturday at 522 E. Main St.

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The Conejo Valley Genealogical Society welcomes everyone interested in the subject to attend a special round table discussion of genealogical procedures at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Conejo Valley Adult School. 1025 Old Farm Road, Thousand Oaks. Call Emma Lee Price at 497-8293.

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Gary McCarthy, author of nine historical and 21 Western novels, will speak to the Ventura County Writers Club on “Characterization and Setting.” His Derby Man and Rivers West of the Colorado series have won him critical acclaim and a Golden Spur Award for best historical novel of 1993. McCarthy, who lives in Ojai, holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in agricultural economics. The meeting is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ottavio’s Banquet Facilities, 340 Mobil Ave., Camarillo. There is a $5 fee for non-members. Call 644-9592 for details.