Central Library

Our city can be very proud of its modern library system of a central library and its four branches that are scattered throughout our city for easy reach of our residents and visitors. Those of you who live downtown have probably noticed the closure of the Main Street library for renovation. Our library system dates back to the time of our city incorporation in 1909 when A.E. Everett, A.L. Reed and Alma Wilson were chosen as trustees for the new Public Library Association of Huntington Beach.

Humans are fascinated with things that defy reality. We call it “magic.” Greek priests rigged temples with tricks to simulate the divine. Gypsy fortune tellers and soothsayers in Europe have used magic to capture the imagination of mankind for thousands of years. The Bible mentions Pharaoh’s magicians in the story of Moses. The mythic King Arthur employed Merlin as his court conjurer. And whether performing on the Las Vegas strip or at the Huntington Beach Central Library, modern magicians work tirelessly to perfect their craft and pour endless creativity into developing their props and tricks.

In July, four dozen children and their parents packed a dark room at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa to watch a bubbly woman give a presentation on Native Americans. The host, Jacque Nunez, decked out in full Acjachemen garb, showed audiences how to weave baskets, how to play clapper sticks and even how to roast rabbit over a fire. It was an impressive act — except that, technically, it wasn't an act at all. Nunez, a native Acjachemen and a longtime activist for her tribe, next week plans to share her program, "Journeys to the Past," with the city of Huntington Beach.

Jack Green, a former Huntington Beach mayor and champion of the city's Central Park and Central Library, died Saturday of congestive heart failure after a long illness. He was 79. "Jack was a real forward-looking gentleman," former Mayor Ralph Bauer said. Green was one of the early pioneers of the open-space movement in Huntington Beach, working with government officials and hundreds of private landowners to create the large park in north-central Huntington Beach.

BURBANK PUBLIC LIBRARY LITERACY SERVICES The Burbank Public Library is looking for volunteer tutors who can provide one-to-one tutoring in basic reading skills to adults who speak and understand English but read and write below an eight grade level. Volunteer tutors meet twice a week for a minium of six months with an adult learner. Must be 18 years or older. For more information, call (818) 238-5577. BURBANK PUBLIC LIBRARY YOUTH LITERACY The Burbank Public Library is looking for volunteer "Ready to Read" tutors who can tutor children 9 through 12 years old. Tutors must help children who need help with reading, phonics, sight-word and fluency skills.

Anyone who has ridden the elevator at the Central Library may have wondered about what appears to be a door at the back of the cab. Sometimes, when one thinks oneself alone with one's thoughts, that door opens and a book truck comes barreling in. That back door to the elevator leads to the staff workroom. It is here that the internal workings of the library take place. The administrative offices are here, of course -- there is a public entrance near the checkout desk.

The gift that Jason Sherr helped give to the Newport Beach Public Library this year can be measured in dollars and cents -- for the record, it came to $405,609. But with so many people potentially using the library, it could be considered priceless. Last week, the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation announced that in the 2003-04 fiscal year it had doubled the amount of funds it raised. In doing so, it set an all-time record. The bulk of the money came from a $250,000 gift from an anonymous community member, but the foundation also solicited thousands more from corporations and other wealthy providers.

BURBANK PUBLIC LIBRARY LITERACY SERVICES The Burbank Public Library is looking for volunteer tutors who can provide one-to-one tutoring in basic reading skills to adults who speak and understand English but read and write below an eight grade level. Volunteer tutors meet twice a week for a minium of six months with an adult learner. Must be 18 years or older. For more information, call (818) 238-5577. BURBANK PUBLIC LIBRARY YOUTH LITERACY The Burbank Public Library is looking for volunteer "Ready to Read" tutors who can tutor children 9 through 12 years old. Tutors must help children who need help with reading, phonics, sight-word and fluency skills.

TOM TITUS The Huntington Beach Playhouse has logged 42 years of community theater performances in a number of different locations and, since 1993, has called the theater at the city's Central Library home. Well, sort of "home." It's been an expensive proposition. At the rental rate of more than $90,000 a year, the playhouse has poured more than $330,000 into Huntington Beach's city coffers over the past dozen years -- and expenses keep mounting as privileges keep dissolving.

Send DATEBOOK items to the Huntington Beach Independent, 18682 Beach Blvd., Suite 160, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; fax to (714) 965-7174; call (714) 965-7176 or e-mail hbindy@latimes.com. Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. TODAY The Ultimate Laff-Down comedy competition will be hosted by Martini Blues. The show will begin at 8:30 p.m. at 5874 Edinger Ave. There will be a $5 cover charge and a $10 drink minimum. Information: (714)