Friends of the Libraries: Library closing put off for 3 months

I have mentioned before that the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library needs to have its roof repaired. The closing time for the library was to have been Nov. 18, but due to contract complications, the date has been pushed back three months. Presumably that means that the closing date will be in February.

There are good and bad aspects of this. The good is that the U.S. Passport Service and Photo business at the library will continue on through the winter when people are planning for summer vacations overseas. The money earned helps support our three Costa Mesa libraries.

Also, the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries bookstore will continue to serve our public.

Library users of course, will be happy to have it open to take part in children’s and adults’ activities, check out books, use the computers, etc.

The bad is putting off the needed repairs. I suggest that the city might take this time to consider long-term library service to our community and the buildings that house that service.

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Events at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library

To celebrate Halloween, 11 a.m. Storytimes will feature Halloween songs and stories. At 2 p.m. Tuesdays, children are invited to enjoy Duplos in the Community Room. Bilingual Storytimes are at 2 p.m. Thursdays.

The library will be closed Monday for Columbus Day.

Looking ahead, BARK will again bring therapy dogs to the library to give children the opportunity to practice reading to these animals at 1 p.m. Oct. 20.

If your child cannot yet read, that is taken care of too as the Children’s Librarian will read to both dogs and children. I happened to be in the library when these dogs came in Saturday, and I must say they were all not only beautiful dogs, but beautifully behaved. Please, no pets or animals are allowed except the BARK dogs.

And on Oct. 23, be sure to visit the library for its first Read- a-Thon. From 5 to 8 p.m., you are invited to share a passage from your favorite book or poem, or just come and read! The librarians would like to show off what great readers visit the Dungan Library. The goal is to have readers continuously reading for three hours. Participation prizes will be raffled off.

The Romance Book Club meets at 2 p.m. in the Community Room. If you are a romance fan, try it! This month they are discussing “High Country Bride” by Linda Lael Miller. For more information, call (949) 646-8845 and ask for Samantha.

Ken Frawley will be back at the library at 11 a.m. Oct. 29 with his “Halloween Party,” a fun-filled look at this popular holiday through stories and songs.

The Mystery Book Club discusses Leslie Meier’s “Wicked Witch Murder” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30.

Then to wind up the month, a Halloween Dress Up Storytime will be at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 31.

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Events at the Mesa Verde Library

The library continues the Children’s Monthly Raffle which gives children a chance to win a new book, toys, stationery and other goodies.

Preschool Storytime is at 11 a.m. Tuesdays. There will be no Pajama Storytime in October.

From 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 11, bring your children and enjoy Family Reading Time.

From 3 to 4 p.m. Oct. 17, enjoy Lego Wednesday.

On Oct. 15, Friends of the Library Book Club will discuss “Practical Magic” by Alice Hoffman. This New York Times and National Bestseller from 1995 was made into a major motion picture. And it matches this month’s “witchy” theme. The group meets behind the Mesa Verde Library in the Friends of the Library bookstore from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

MARY ELLEN GODDARD produced this column on behalf of the Friends of Costa Mesa Libraries, the Costa Mesa Library Foundation and the three Costa Mesa branches of the Orange County Public Libraries.