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Friends of the Libraries: A bag of books for cheap

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A lot of you have been asking, “When is the next book sale?” Well, it is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday at the Costa Mesa/Donald Dungan Library.

On Saturday, when you will obviously have the best choice of books, the sale runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Sunday, the sale is from noon to 3 p.m., and bargain hunters always love it because it is “Buck a Bag.” The address is 1855 Park Ave., and the sale will be held in the Community Room. The entrance is around the side of the building, to the left of the front door.

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The masterpieces of math

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Though I have to admit I am far from being a math whiz, I was interested in Edward Frenkel’s March 2 opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, “The masterpieces of math.”

In this piece, Frenkel says, “If we are to give students the right tools to navigate an increasing math-driven world, we must teach them early on that mathematics is not just about numbers and how to solve equations but about concepts and ideas.”

His idea is that students should be given a chance to be interested in this wider view of math — before they get the idea that math is impenetrable. He admits that we still need to teach the basics, but says that we should inspire them to engage math beyond the basic requirements.

He equated the lack of knowledge of higher math to someone being taught to paint a fence and never shown paintings of the masters. “Pretty soon you’d be asking, ‘Why study art?’”

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At the Costa Mesa/Donald Dungan Library

Bring your young children for Toddler Storytime, 11 a.m. March 10 and 17. There will be stories, finger plays, songs, crafts and more! Toddlers and preschoolers are welcome to attend, and no registration is required.

The whole family can visit one of the Duplo tables set up in the library lobby from 2 to 6 p.m. March 11 and 18. This is a weekly event and gives parents and children a chance to play together, to use everyone’s imagination to build a unique creation.

Children of all ages and their families are invited to join the library staff for Family Storytime at 7 p.m. March 12 and 19. Children are welcome to come in their pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed toy. No registration is required.

There will be five nutrition classes during the month of March. The next three are at 10 a.m. on March 13 and 20 and at 3 p.m. on March 20. You will have a chance to learn how to eat better and be active. Each class includes a food demonstration. No signups are required. The classes are bilingual in English and Spanish.

If you have questions about any of these programs, call the library at (949) 646-8845.

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At the Mesa Verde Library

Preschool Storytime will be held from 11 to 11:30 a.m. March 11 for children to enjoy stories, finger plays and songs. Following this Storytime is a session of Crafts and Activities for Preschoolers. Activities may include simple crafts, games or outdoor fun like bubble days, scavenger hunts and sidewalk chalk.

For both of these programs, toddlers are welcome with accompanying adult, and older siblings are also welcome. Registration is not required.

In a makerspace program recommended for ages 7 to 17 at this library, kids and teens will learn the basics of robotics, build tiny robots of their own out of toothbrushes and a few thing-a-ma-bobs, then compete in hilarious Brush Bot free-for-all races that will have them clamoring to learn more about technology and do-it-yourself maker culture.

This is a free program, and all supplies are provided. However, registration is required, and it is limited to 100 participants. To register or for any other inquiries, call the library at (714) 546-5274.

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At the Costa Mesa Technology Library

Meet with library volunteers who can help you learn basic computer skills, navigate the Internet, create and use email accounts, print documents and images and more. Sign up for a one-on-one learning session by phone at (949) 515-3970 or on site. Walk-ins welcome too.

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 OC Public Libraries.

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