Dinner raises funds for library

Barbara Diamond

Laguna Beach Library has a bunch of new friends.

TV weatherman Fritz Coleman and more than 50 nationally known

authors have helped the Friends of the Library raise funds to cover

the loss of state revenue due to the budget crisis.

Coleman was the guest speaker Saturday at the annual Friends

membership dinner. The authors donated autographed books for a silent

auction.

“We made $1,200 just from the auction,” said Martha Lydick,

president of the Friends. “Every one of the 78 donated books sold.”

Having Coleman as the speaker may have accounted for an increase

in attendance for the dinner, according to Lydick.

“Fritz was hilarious,” Lydick said. “He will be made an honorary

member of the Friends.”

Proceeds from the dinner will be used to benefit the library. The

Friends major source of funds is the used bookstore, under the

library at 363 Glenneryre St. It opened in 1986. Hours are 11 a.m. to

3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

“Hopefully starting next month, we also will be open until 6 p.m.

on Mondays and Thursdays,” Lydick said. “But we will need more

volunteers.”

The Friends has supported the library since the 1920s.

“It was one woman working out of her house,” Lydick said. “We are

now almost 400 strong.

“The community is really getting behind us. We received a $1,000

check at the dinner from Betsy and Dr. Gary Jenkins to go toward the

purchase of books. JoHanna Sisson donated $500 toward books and last

summer Mr. and Mrs. John Morrissey donated $2,000.”

Supercolor on Beach Street donates a quarter for every digital

photograph processed on Fridays.

Wild Oats has included the Friends in its Wooden Nickel program. A

wooden nickel is donated to a designated charity for every Wild Oats

bag a customer returns. At the end of the year, the accumulated

nickels are tabulated and a check is sent to the charity. Wild Oats

also sponsored a “Buck a Burger” day in the store’s parking lot to

help the Friends raise funds.

“The city donated $1,500 this year, for which I thank them,”

Lydick said. “And the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club collects books to

donate to our bookstore.”

State funds are distributed to library branches by the county,

based on circulation, population and property taxes.

“We have no control over population or property taxes, but we can

have an effect on circulation,” said Lydick. “The more books we take

out of the library, the more money we can hope to get from the state.

“The Friends urge everyone in Laguna to borrow books from the

library and to teach their children to use the library.”

A plan reportedly is in the works to build another library branch

in Irvine, to be funded by reductions to already existing branches.

“That would mean $10,000 less for Laguna,” said Lydick.

Lydick is beginning her third consecutive term as president of the

Friends board. Serving with her: Diane Lichterman, vice president;

Diane Connell, treasurer; Angela Irish, secretary: Sue Cohen , Bob

Coons, Bob and Beverly Mosier, Nancy and Howard Pink, Terry Smith and

Judy Jameson Trulock, members at large; and Magda Herlicska, book

store liaison.

For more information about membership or volunteering, visit web

site [email protected] or call (949) 497-7053.