Volume 10 Number 3, Fall 1999

In This Issue: Library receives $500,000 Carnegie grant The Director’s Journal NBA Stars Shine at the Branches Treasures of the Library Hispanic Heritage celebration Library holds theater symposium and exhibition Vailsburg renovations under way Library celebrates Italian experience in Newark with an exhibition Library hosts "Calliope" project Mascot naming-contest winner announced Friends of The Newark Public Library

NBA Stars Shine at the Branches Two National Basketball Association stars helped the Library launch our "Year of the Branch" celebration in August. Shaquille O'Neal, superstar center of the Los Angeles Lakers, treated a group of children from various Newark community organizations to a memorable day when he premiered his new book at Springfield. The children are members of Newark's Reading Is Fundamental program, of which Shaq serves as national spokesman. On the same occasion, a garden was dedicated to the memory of Lewis V. Graves, who provided forty-four years of service to the Springfield branch and its community. Scholastic Inc. donated the memorial garden and approximately $12,000 in books. Ernest Fleishman, Scholastic Inc.; William "Chip" Madsen, Newark Reading is Fundamental Program; Shaquille O'Neal; Dr. Alex Boyd and Deputy Mayor Delores Henry Metz join Mrs. LaVerne Graves at the garden dedication. Keith Van Horn, star forward of the New Jersey Nets, visited the Van Buren branch to participate in a "Celebrity Read." John Silva, an audience member, joined Van Horn in reading Stellaluna aloud to a group of children. Sly, the Nets' mascot, strutted his stuff while acting out the story. Keith Van Horn reads Stellaluna with audience member John Silva.

			http://www.npl.org/Pages/ProgramsExhibits/SecondCentury/vol10num3/ Copyright ©1999 The Newark Public Library Address all correspondence to: The Second Century The Newark Public Library 5 Washington Street P.O. Box 630 Newark, New Jersey 07101-0630 Telephone: (973)733-7793 ISSN 1049-5509 webmaster@npl.org