National Library Week is upon us

Today marks the beginning of National Library Week. It’s a big deal

for us because, obviously, we believe in the necessity and the value

of libraries to a community and to a democracy.

We are hoping to make it, maybe not a big deal, but at the very

least, interesting for the people of the community. Lots of

activities and programs are planned to show the diversity of ideas

and entertainment that can be found at your local library.

Festivities begin today with a Sunday Musicale featuring the

Scarborough Trio. The trio consists of flute, bassoon and piano, and

it will present a variety of music, including Rossini and Gershwin.

The recital is at 3 p.m. in the Friends Meeting Room of the Central

Library, and admission is free.

Tuesday will be a day packed with loads of activities. At 11 a.m.,

the three branches of the library -- Balboa, Corona del Mar and

Mariners -- will be holding an open house. Enjoy the refreshments,

meet the staff and learn some of the wonderful new things the library

has to offer.

To follow up on the Chuck Jones art exhibit and lecture by Jones’

daughter, Linda Jones, which was held at the Central Library on

Saturday, the Children’s Room is holding a Looney Tunes Cartoon

Classics afternoon at the Central Library from 3:30 to 5 p.m. And you

don’t have to be a child to attend. Kids of all ages and fans of

Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Pepe, Wile E. Coyote, etc. are invited.

Tuesday evening is dedicated to the young adults in the community,

when the Teen Center holds the second annual Teen Poetry Slam for

students in grades seven through 12. Bring your own work to read in

the contest or just come to listen to what other kids are writing.

There will be refreshments. And cash prizes!

On Wednesday, we have one of our favorite events in the yearly

calendar. It’s the American Girls Tea Party (which will be repeated

April 20 -- that’s how popular it has become). There will be a short

history program, crafts and refreshments, and it is geared for

first-graders on up. And if you don’t know what “American Girls” are,

you don’t have a little girl in the house.

Thursday is a special treat for mystery buffs and would-be mystery

writers. We are hosting a Mystery Authors Panel which will include

Jan Burke (the Irene Kelly mystery series), Barbara Seranella (of the

Munch Mancini series) and, as a wonderful bonus, D.P. Lyle.

Though Dr. Doug Lyle has only recently written mysteries with his

Samantha Cody books, he is well known as a godsend to mystery

writers. His other works are “Murder and Mayhem: A Doctor Answers

Medical and Forensic Questions for Mystery Writers” and “Forensics

for Dummies.”

The week concludes with an event in the Martin Witte Distinguished

Lecture Series. This week’s guest is Eric Schlosser, author of “Fast

Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.” The

best-selling book by the Atlantic Monthly correspondent is in the

tradition of good old American muckraking, and his talk is sure to be

alarming and entertaining. For information on prices and to make

reservations, call (866) 301-2411.

For the delight of our youngest patrons, there will be story times

all week long, featuring some very special guests. At some of the

sessions, stories will be read by City Manager Homer Bludau, Mayor

Steven Bromberg, Councilmen Tod Ridgeway and Don Webb, and library

trustee Karen Clark.

For more information on these story times and the others

throughout the week, call the Children’s Room at (949) 717-3830.

* 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.newportbeachlibrary.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.