Library

The Laguna Beach Library welcomes Santa and science fiction fans alike this month, with a talk by prolific author Ray Bradbury at 6 p.m. tonight and its annual Winter Open House at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Admission to the Bradbury talk is $25 for adults and $15 for students, which benefits the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library. Martha Lydick, a board member of the Friends organization, said Bradbury last came to Laguna in the early 1980s. The author has always given autographed books to the organization to use as silent auction prizes at its annual meeting.

Eliana Alcouloumre, 12, will have a fundraiser Monday at Studio DC Salon for a library at Lowery Elementary School in Donaldsonville, La. Studio DC will donate all the proceeds from appointments that day to accrue new books. Eliana wanted to perform an act of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world, tied in some way to her love of reading, as part of her Bat Mitzvah celebration. Eliana adopted Lowery, a school in a small town that absorbed a significant number of displaced children from Hurricane Katrina, with 97% of the students currently living in poverty.

If you're not from Laguna You don't know Bluebird Park. You can't know Bluebird Park. All the concerts in the park, Coming home right before dark. Tortoise sits beside the green grassy stage, The playground is open to even the old age. Fresh-smelling grass, ready to mow, People will eat as they wait for the show. Bluebird Park is one of Laguna's beautiful places, Because there you will see a lot of smiling faces. Bluebird Park has striking scenery, gorgeous plants, and more, With all of the swings, slides, and music, it's really a place to adore.

The contrast between the spiffy new exterior of the Laguna Beach Library and the shabby, but not-so-chic interior is raising some eyebrows. Criticism by a parent about the uninspired décor in the children's reading room started the library staff looking at the interior with new insight. The first steps have been taken to make improvements. "I have spoken to local interior designer Lisa McDennon, who agreed to come and take a look and meet with the Friends of the Library," Children's Librarian Rebecca Porter said.

The following is from the March 13 meeting of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees. Top of the World library to be renovated After a short discussion, the board unanimously approved the renovation of the Top of the World Elementary School library/media center, at a cost not to exceed $275,000. The renovation will include utility and data re-routing and reinstallation; floor removal and reconstruction; new lib- rary furniture and circulation desk; and carpeting.

The whimsical, colorful pair of benches that enliven the front of the newly renovated Laguna Beach Library were the star attraction on the First Thursday Art Walk, March 1. A crowd of more than 100 gathered for the dedication of the benches, created by artists Helma Bovenizer and Valerie Gorrell, and to recognize contributors to the renovation of the library and the grounds. "We don't usually have so many people at a dedication," said Nancy Beverage, chair of the Arts Commission, which recommended "Another Perfect Day in Paradise" for the approval of the City Council.

Some local library advocates, angered and dismayed by a fait accompli change in how materials are handled that are sent between branches, are raising the prospect of taking Laguna Beach out of the county library system. The county library has quietly introduced a sea change in its cross-branch borrowing. Some materials that are sent away from their home branch because of a request from a distant borrower are shelved at the receiving branch instead of being sent back to their place of origin.

Some members of the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library are bristling at the proposed expansion of a systemwide one-way borrowing program they just learned about. The Orange County Public Library, of which the Laguna branch is a part, is proposing to expand a "floating collection" system in which patron-requested books will not be returned to the branch from which they were borrowed but stay at the patron's home branch. County librarians say the one-way system saves money and reduces wear and tear on materials.

Almost 100 friends of the Laguna Beach Library gathered last week to celebrate another successful year of fundraising. "We have so many generous friends, and this was an amazing year of contributions," said Martha Lydick , perennial president of the Friends. Contributions included a $2,500 check from the Laguna Beach County Water District, presented by General Manager Renae Hinchey , $2,000 from Doris and John Morrissey , $10,000 from the Laguna Board of Realtor Taste of Charity proceeds, $12,000 from the city and a Village Laguna donation made the night of the dinner.