School libraries cash in big with bookstore gifts

NEWPORT BEACH — If the reception at the new First Page store on Thursday was any indication, someone out there really, really likes Mariners Elementary School.

To celebrate the opening of the children’s bookstore’s second outlet, owner Christy Coyne invited librarians from more than 40 local schools to pick up a special gift from customers. Since March, book buyers at the store’s Costa Mesa location have contributed 5% of every purchase toward the school of their choice. Mariners, near the Costa Mesa store, came out on top with a whopping $1,005.61 — more than double the amount for any other campus.

School librarian Jane Felder couldn’t say for sure who her benefactors were, but she had a good idea.

“I think it’s mostly grandmas and grandparents and aunts and uncles,” she said. “And the kids love to come here. They love to pick their own books. I think the kids bring their parents here.”

On Thursday, Felder was one of about a dozen librarians who filled the new store in the Newport Hills shopping center at 2816 San Miguel Drive in Corona del Mar. As the honorees snacked on wine, fruit and other refreshments, Coyne gave out letters declaring how much credit each school had at the store.

A Corona del Mar High School graduate, Coyne opened the First Page on 17th Street in Costa Mesa three years ago. Shortly afterward, the store implemented a summer program in which 5% of every purchase went toward the school of the customer’s choice. This March, due to increased popularity, Coyne decided to extend the program year-round.

The $7,200 that the store handed out on Thursday was collected between March and September, and represents approximately half of all funds that the First Page has raised for schools since its founding. Ultimately, Coyne said, she would like her two stores to raise $1,000 for each school in town.

“I still want more,” she said. “There is no limit to how much we will give.”

As the librarians found out their totals on Thursday, some had already begun deciding what they would buy. Felder said that Mariners, which has the Accelerated Reader program to encourage students to complete more books, was in the market for “Captain Underpants,” “Nate the Great” and other popular series.

Sandy Montooth, the librarian of Woodland Elementary School, said her school had nearly 20,000 books for students in kindergarten through the third grade — but is still keen to expand.

“We always have a wish list,” she said. “It’s a no-brainer. If someone gives us a request, I can put in the order right away.”