10 years old, and still going strong

Happy Birthday to the Central Branch of the Newport Beach Public

Library! This week marks the 10th anniversary of the grand opening of

the central library built at 1000 Avocado Ave., near Fashion Island.

The festivities will begin on Saturday and last through July 17.

There is something planned for everyone.

Scheduled for Saturday is the opening of “Newport Reads ... The

Next Chapter” gala to be held at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel.

Broadcaster Ed Arnold of KOCE-TV will serve as master of

ceremonies with Patt Morrison of KCET-TV and the Los Angeles Times as

guest speaker. In addition, nine authors will sign books during

cocktail hour and share insights with their tablemates during dinner.

The authors include the writer of “A Woman of Independent Means,”

Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey; noted humorist and author of “California

Rush” and “Who’s Hot, Who’s Not,” Sherwood Kiraly; acclaimed short

story writer, Mary Yukari Waters; novelist of “World War II in the

Pacific,” John Gobbell; and the author of “Laguna Heat” and “Silent

Joe,” T. Jefferson Parker, among others. The $125 tickets for this

fundraising affair are still available. For information, call (949)

644-3296.

On Sunday, July 11, will be the official reception and grand

opening of “Seacoasts and Harbors,” an art exhibit by local artist,

Raymond G. Otis. Co-sponsored by the City Arts Commission, the

reception will be held in the Friends Meeting Room at the Central

Library. Music will be provided by members of the Pacific Symphony

Youth Orchestra.

On Monday, July 12, the annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea is

scheduled. Employees will thank the hundreds of volunteers who have

helped the library throughout the year -- in the Friends Bookstore,

the foundation programs, the literacy tutorials, the children’s room,

the Young Adult Advisory Council and many more places. The guest

speaker for this event will be the artistic director of the Laguna

Playhouse, Andrew Barnicle.

Tuesday night, July 13, is dedicated to the library’s avid teen

readers. Guest author is the wildly popular creator of “Weetzie Bat”

and “Girl Goddess #9,” Francesco Lia Block. Music for the teen

evening will be provided by the jazz group, Y Not.

Huell Howser, star of the PBS series “California Gold,” is the

featured guest on Wednesday evening, July 14. Unfortunately, the free

tickets were gone in a matter of hours and the event is sold out.

But Thursday night, July 15, is for all those mystery and crime

readers out there. “Mysterious Women -- A Mystery Authors Panel” will

be an intriguing and insightful evening about the craft of writing a

mystery story. The three guest women of mystery are: Barbara

Seranella, author of the Munch Mancini crime series; Patricia Guiver,

who pens the Delilah Doolittle pet detective novels; and the creator

of the Eve Diamond series, Denise Hamilton.

Friday, July 16, is a daytime affair. At 9:30 a.m., there will be

an event featuring the man behind one of the most popular items found

in any library -- Duvall Hecht, the founder of Books on Tape Inc. The

event should be especially interesting as he recounts the history and

development of his idea to have books read by professional readers in

an audio-recording format.

Naturally, the crowning event of the birthday celebration should

go to the children. Saturday, July 17, is Children’s Day, featuring

storytelling, crafts, musical performances and visits from local

children’s authors Nancy Robison, Robin Preiss-Glasser and David

Giddings. Flights of Fantasy Story Theatre, We Tell Stories, and

Greggy Dee will be entertaining the little ones throughout the day.

So plan on coming over to our big birthday party. Informative and

fun, the week’s events are planned to celebrate one of your most

valuable city institutions.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you come in this week you can get one of the new, fancy,

extra-deluxe 10th Anniversary library cards, or exchange your old one

for one of the new celebratory cards.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Sara Barnicle. All titles may be

reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at

https://www.newport

beachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or

any of the branch locations, please contact the Newport Beach Public

Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.