Group gives Newport library $125,000

NEWPORT BEACH -- Newport Beach Friends of the Library president

Larry Spitz presented the Newport Beach Public Library with a check for

$125,000 at a City Council meeting earlier this month.

The check represents proceeds from the Friends Bookstore 1998/99

fiscal year.

“The continuing success of the Friends Bookstore is unprecedented for

a city our size or, in fact, for a city of any size,” said Community

Services director and city librarian LaDonna Kienitz. “The Friends’

fund-raising efforts dwarf those of many much larger jurisdictions.”

The Friends Bookstore is near the entrance to the Newport Beach

Central Library and is staffed seven days a week by more than 100

community volunteers.

Financial contributions from the group enables the library to purchase

adult, young adult and children’s print and audiovisual materials,

including popular, high-interest titles for all libraries, books on

cassette and videos.

-- Amy R. Spurgeon