Stars Take On Supporting Role for Libraries

In real life they are a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and an Academy Award-winning actress.

But on Wednesday Ojai residents Chris Hillman, formerly of the Byrds, and Mary Steenburgen, who won an Oscar for her performance in “Melvin and Howard” and starred in “Back to the Future III,” spun stories sans guitar or special effects to the delight of more than 150 parents and children at Ventura’s H.P. Wright Library.

The pair were among media celebrities at three libraries reading stories to promote literacy and libraries as part of the national “Day of a Thousand Stars, Great American Read Aloud.”

“I would rather deal with kids than adults most of the time,” said the bespectacled Hillman before taking his storytelling turn.

“It’s a tough crowd, a tough audience, but they’re very forgiving.”

That was just as well, given that Hillman inquired, in nervous rock vocalist fashion, “Is this mike on?” before launching into a spirited telling of “The Adventures of Taxi Dog” and “What if the Shark Wore Tennis Shoes.”

By the time he finished, the crowd went, well, as wild as a crowd of 30-something parents and pint-sized literature lovers are allowed to get in a library. “Read that again,” cried Matthew Pando, 4.

The nattily attired Steenburgen, in a tasteful black and white ensemble, had perhaps the hardest job of maintaining the youngsters’ attention. She appeared at the program’s conclusion and valiantly did her animated best to fire the fidgety kids’ imaginations.

In addition to Steenburgen and Hillman, the crowd at the Wright library heard readings from Bill Overend, city editor of the Ventura County Edition of The Times, and Mark Elliot, KBBY program director.

At Oxnard’s Soliz-El Rio Library, Julia C. Wilson, editor of The Times’ Ventura County Edition, started the program, followed by Billy and Bob, morning radio personalities at 105.5-FM, and singer Lee Orgel.

At the Simi Valley Library, children heard from Joanna M. Miller, Times education writer; Stephanie Abrams, KBBY promotion director; and Patsy Swayze, a Simi Valley choreographer and mother of movie star Patrick Swayze.

The politically active Steenburgen noted the role libraries played in her eventual career choice.

“If you want to grow up and do what I do for a living--be an actress--my advice to you is read as much as you can,” Steenburgen said before signing a few autographs.

Many of the young bibliophiles got the message.

“I read a lot,” said Kiana Lowe, 7. “I go to the library almost every day. I read chapter books already.”

Jenny Phelps, children’s librarian at the branch, expressed pleasure with the crowd’s enthusiastic response to Steenburgen’s mini-sermon.

“I’m very pleased that she talked about reading and the importance of libraries to children because that’s the message we want to get out,” Phelps said.