Library Groups Seek Donations, Volunteers

Benjamin Franklin dreamed of them. Andrew Carnegie funded hundreds of them. Now public libraries need our help.

Ventura County libraries are facing another year of severe cutbacks. The current budget for materials for the entire 15-library system has dropped drastically to $62,700, according to librarian Sandi Banks.

The Camarillo Library’s share is only $9,400. This means dozens of newspaper and magazine subscriptions will not be renewed, and the purchase of new titles will depend on how much money Friends of the Library can raise. So, the Camarillo Friends urge everyone to support their used-book sale scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the big white tent to be erected at Las Posas Plaza at Daily Drive. If you can donate time or books, call Dave Plannette at 987-1654.

The Thousand Oaks Friends of the Library also are sponsoring a used-book sale beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at their temporary quarters, 2400 Willow Lane. The sale is to clear out some books, magazines, records, videos and audiotapes in anticipation of moving back into the renovated main library, which was severely damaged in the 1994 earthquake. Donations will be accepted through Friday. Call Brenda DeNatale at 495-8272.

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The list of books attacked and in some cases banned from schools and public libraries includes thousands of beloved and honored books. To acknowledge Freedom to Read week, authors will gather at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura, to read passages from “Huckleberry Finn,” “King Lear” and “Gulliver’s Travels,” each of which was banned somewhere at one time.

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Annie Reiner, poet and author of children’s books, will read at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for the Simi Valley Library Poetry Group at the library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. An open reading will follow. Donation of a good used book for the Friends of the Library bookstore is encouraged.

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Jeff Denhart will sign “Just Bones” at noon Sunday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. The reading group will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

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Gene Perret, three-time Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and author of 16 books, will address the Ventura County Writers Club at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Orchid Professional Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo. Call 647-9910.

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Three classes for writers are scheduled at Learning Tree University’s Thousand Oaks campus. “Using the Internet: A Writer’s Tour of Research Opportunities” will be taught by Adrienne GreenHeart from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; author Ramon Stevens will conduct a self-publishing seminar from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and Richard Cormack will offer “Writing and Selling Magazine Articles” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 and 19. Call 497-2292 for details.

IN SANTA BARBARA

Barbara Patten will sign her first novel, “Life’s Connections,” which critics note is a search for self-discovery and a tender romance, at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St. And Richard Senate will sign his “Erle Stanley Gardner’s Ventura” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, also at Earthling.

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Santa Barbara-based public relations man Milton Kahn will be honored as publicist of the year and receive the Irwin Award at a dinner hosted by the Southern California Book Publicists. Kahn’s firm represents authors, film and television actors and has orchestrated publicity campaigns for Oscar-winning films. The event is scheduled at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Sportsmen’s Lodge, 12833 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Call (213) 461-3921 for reservations.

Frances Halpern is co-host with Jon O’Brien of “Beyond Words” at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU-FM (88.3), Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.