Library opens doors to discussion

Published online on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009

The usual quiet at Fresno Central Library will give way to chatter for the 20th annual Dinner in the Library, the biggest fund-raising event of the year for the Friends of the Fresno County Public Library.

This year's event, set for Nov. 1, will look to add to the more than $300,000 raised to date for the library's endowment fund.

Originally, the event was a literary dinner where table hosts dressed as the subject of their discussion: an author, book or a composer. The first year tables featured Beatrix Potter, L. Frank Baum and Frederic Chopin.

"The event has grown each year to the 23 tables we now have. And the 23 tables are the maximum that the space at the Central Library will allow," says John Kallenberg, chairman of the planning committee for the event. "Now we have authors, journalists, historians and other community leaders beyond those who are writers of books. This change was to reflect the broader interest of the community."

This year topics:

* Larry Balakian, "Love, Loss and What I Wore"

* Rick Bentley, "And the Oscar, Maybe, Goes to..."

* Diane Blair, "First Ladies: Martha to Michelle"

* Jim Boren, "The Demise of the California Legislature"

* Bob Boro, "Gardens of Thomas Doliver Church"

* Thomas Crow, "Community Colleges: Challenges at 100"

* Jeff Cummins, "State and National Politics"

* George Gruner, "Hammer Field: New Revelations on Its Place in History"

* Dick Haas, "What is Hot in Biology"

* Doug Hansen, "Mother Goose in California"

* Howard Hendrix, "Ray Bradbury: The Next Big Read"

* Paul Kaser, "Literary Voices of the Civil War"

* Lydia Kuhn, "Mysteries: Cozies to Hardboiled"

* Bill McEwen, "Fresno 2025"

* Russ Minick, "Does Professional Baseball Have a Future in the Valley?"

* Donald Munro, "The Local Arts Scene"

* Dan Pessano, "The Future of Theater"

* Alan Rea, "Great Operatic Disasters"

* Jackie Ryle, "Christmas in New York"

* David Schecter, "A View from City Hall"

* Bill Secrest Jr., "Inside Secrets of Book Collecting"

* Jim Tucker, "Changes in Traditional News Media: Should We be Concerned"

* Adrian Wiggins, "Dynamics of Coaching"

Kallenberg says that while the library will be filled, the event still has a very personal feel.

"There is this ambience of being in a little more intimate space with eight to 12 people discussing a particular topic ... ," Kallenberg says.

A silent auction will be held for such items as a cooking class with Shirley Sprinkle; lunch with Jim Costa; and a copy of "An Act or Two of Foolish Things," numbered and signed by William Saroyan.

A few single seats are available at $100 each. A donation of $1,000 includes dinner for eight and a choice of table hosts. A $300 donation includes dinner for two and table preference.

To make reservations call 431-7681 or 486-0866.