Press Release

Date:            April 17 , 2006
Contact:       Katherine Mielke
Phone:         (949) 717-3816
E-mail:         kmielke@city.newport-beach.ca.us                             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Photo by Joe Mozdzen

 

MARINERS LIBRARY TO OPEN ITS DOORS TO STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2006

Newport Beach, CA  (April 17, 2006) -  Students from Mariners Elementary School will join city, school and library officials to officially open the new Donna and John Crean Mariners Branch Library on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. The Grand Opening Ceremonies will take place outside the new Library at 1300 Irvine Avenue in Newport Beach.  Newport Beach Mayor Don Webb, along with Board of Library Trustees Chairman, Dr. Harry Hamilton and Newport-Mesa Unified School Board president David Brooks will welcome the students and the community to the new Library.  Former California Secretary of Education, Marian Bergeson, who played a key role as Honorary Chair of the “Build a Mariners Library Fund” will also speak.

              When the doors open on Thursday, many of the students, their siblings, parents and grandparents will find their names, or the name of their scout troop or neighborhood block engraved on the Donor Wall inside the Library as a result of the remarkable community fund-raising effort that accompanied the planning stages in 2002.  The neighborhood spearheaded the fund raising with bake sales, car washes, block parties and other activities to meet the looming deadline for a $3.2 million California State Library Grant application. Donations from over 700 individuals, local companies, organizations, Friends of the Library, Newport Beach Public Library Foundation, and Donna and John Crean, provided the project with more than $1.5 million in private funding and were instrumental in the City’s successful bid for the state grant.

A Joint-Use Library Serving School and Community

The new Donna and John Crean Mariners Branch Library is designed as a “joint-use” facility in order to maximize public dollars by sharing resources.  It will serve as the students’ school library as well as a public library for the local residents. At 15,305 square feet, it is more than double the size of the former Mariners Branch built in 1963.

Designed by Thirtieth Street Architects of Newport Beach, the Library is a one-story linear design built adjacent to Mariners Elementary School. The Library features high ceilings and lots of windows to allow natural lighting in the main reading areas which look out on Mariners Park.  Highlights of the Library include the Friends Children’s Room, the Teen Corner, separate computer centers for adults, teens, and children; self-serve checkout machines as well as a fully-staffed customer service desk; wireless Internet access throughout, and the Vincent Jorgensen Room with a student study center for after-school and community programs.

The 3,710 square-foot Children’s Room features a sliding see-through partition that is secured during school hours, dedicating a portion of the expansive room to Mariners Elementary school students. Children will also enjoy their own Storytime Room and computer center.

For more information on the new Donna and John Crean Mariners Branch Library, visit the Newport Beach Public Library’s website at www.newportbeachlibrary.org or call (949) 717-3800.

 

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Donna & John Crean Mariners Branch Library

Grand Opening Ceremonies

Thursday, April 20, 11 a.m.

Welcome

Dr. Harry Hamilton, Chairman

Board of Library Trustees

Pledge of Allegiance

Cub Scout Pack 325

Remarks

Barbara Silken, Senior Architect

State Office of Library Construction

David Brooks, President

Newport-Mesa Unified School Board

 

Opening Address

Mayor Don Webb

Congressional Certificate of Recognition

From the Office of Congressman John Campbell

Chris Palmer, Deputy Director

Presentation of Books     

Mariners Elementary School

Pam Coughlin, Principal

Executive Board, Student Council

Logan Friend, President

Connor Leggett, Vice President

Riley Ritchie, Treasurer

Sydney Groves, Secretary

Shannon Boler, Activities

Jake Prater, Publicity

Avery Peterson, Environment

Closing Comments

Marian Bergeson

Former California Secretary of Education

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony