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Friends of the Libraries: Libraries have a wish list too

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With the holiday season upon us, I hope that those who like to give during this time of year will consider giving to our libraries — either through the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries to support the current facilities (address contributions to the Friends at 2969 Mesa Verde Drive E., Costa Mesa 92626) or by giving to the Costa Mesa Library Foundation, (P.O. Box 2864, Costa Mesa 92628) to raise money for added library space in our town.

Costa Mesa’s three branches of the OC Public Libraries system each have a great staff and provide great service, but with expanded space, they could do more to enhance K-12 academic performance, early literacy and school readiness, cultural and intellectual development, and literature and fine arts.

With added space, they could also do more for small-business incubation, workforce development and public access to information.

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Contributions can be small or large, the cost of a book (paper or electronic) or a room in the new library. All will be appreciated. Consider that you might give a gift in memory of someone.

Other library giving that you might consider is a donation of gently used books. Those books needed by the library will be added to its collections, and the others will be sold by the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries to buy books and support other needs and services like the children’s programs.

Or you might consider giving of your time as a volunteer at the Friends’ bookstore at the Mesa Verde or Donald Dungan libraries.

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Passport Service at the Donald Dungan Library

Don’t forget that you can apply for your U.S. passport at the Dungan Library. And you can make it a one-stop shop by getting your passport photos there as well.

Passport hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. (walk-in service) and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those with reservations. Call (949) 646-8845 for information.

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At the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library

This is exciting. A 3-D printer will be at the library to demonstrate the new technology. Call the library at (949) 646-8845 for further information.

Children’s librarian Erik Oviedo will continue with Monday morning story time for preschoolers at 11 a.m. Family story time is 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Duplo Day is from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays. Tables are set up with the colorful toys so that families can work together to build their own creations.

Movies for children continue at 3:30 p.m. Thursdays. “Up” is scheduled for Dec. 11, and the 2013 Disney film “Frozen” for Dec. 18.

Movies for adults are at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Viewers can join a Film Club discussion afterward, led by adult services librarian Ziba Zedhar. The Dec. 9 film is “The Royal Tenenbaums” from 2001, and on Dec. 16 the 2003 movie “Elf” (2003) will be shown.

The Bilingual Discussion Group, also led by Zedhar, is planned for Thursdays at 6 p.m. The group practices conversational English and Spanish. And for children, a Bilingual Digital Storytime will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 13.

On Dec. 13 and 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., all ages are encouraged to build their own holiday greeting cards with materials provided at the library.

Staff is starting to plan for the Summer Reading Program. Performers must be booked in December and January for programs in July. And reading incentive prizes are ordered in December before the suppliers run out of desired items.

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At the Mesa Verde Library

On Dec. 18, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., all ages can learn to draw Bugs Bunny and other cartoon characters when representatives from Acme comics will be at the library.

Story time for preschoolers, at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Dec. 9, will blend traditional and digital stories. Following, from 11:30 a.m. to noon, is Craftivity, where the same children can do simple crafts, play games or enjoy outdoor fun with bubbles or sidewalk chalk. On Dec. 10, the same programs will be offered from 2 to 3 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 OC Public Libraries.

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