HUNTINGTON BEACH : A Passport to Adventure at the Library

Children and their parents learned this week that a library is much more than just a building filled with books.

“We’re a cultural center too,” said Nanci Williams, children’s services coordinator at the city’s Central Library.

To motivate youngsters to read during the summer and use the library all year long, Friends of the Children’s Library sponsored “Carnival of Folk Tales” Tuesday, drawing about 2,000 children and their parents.

The youngsters attended story-telling sessions about different cultures, heard folk tales from places such as India and Africa, and were entertained by folk dancers from Spain and musicians who played Calypso music.

The festival also included games and crafts from around the world.

Sharon Seier of Buena Park brought her 2-year-old son, Bradley, to see the puppet shows and participate in the story times.

“It’s a way for him to learn and for me to be with him and to teach him some educational activities,” Seier said.

Melissa Bernardin of Huntington Beach brought sons Zackary, 3, and Tyler, 9 months, with hopes that “they’ll grow up to love reading. I want them to read a lot.”

The festival was the kickoff for the library’s summer reading program, “Passport to Adventure: Read Around The World.” The children’s wing at Central Library has 56,000 titles for young readers, Williams said.

Friends of the Children’s Library for years has sponsored the festival to kick off the summer reading program, typically with a carnival.

This year the focus is on literary skills and literature, said Ruth Siegrist, a Friends member and coordinator of the festival.

“We wanted to give the children a multicultural experience,” she said. “We want to motivate them to read about different lands.”

Williams said 706 children ages 3 and older signed up for the reading program. Incentives such as free meals, gifts and toys donated by local businesses will be given to youngsters who read eight or more books or make eight weekly visits to the library during the summer.

Children can continue to sign up for the program through July 31 at Central Library or any of the branches.

Councilman Ralph Bauer, who attended the festival, said it is a way to make children feel comfortable using the library.

“It’s a start of lifelong learning,” he said. “It awakens a whole dimension of literary desires beyond what they get in school.”