New Mariners library finds name in Creans

Christine Carrillo

The Mariners Branch Library adopted a new name Monday morning to

honor two residents who donated the last $500,000 needed to fund its

construction.

The state-of-the-art library, set to begin construction later this

year, will be called the Donna and John Crean Mariners Branch

Library, a gesture that reflects library supporters’ gratitude for

the donation that pushed it over the final financial hurdle.

“I think it’s entirely appropriate to recognize the people that

helped get us there,” said Theresa Chase, co-chair of the Build A

Mariners Library Committee. “[Their donation played] a very

significant role; it put us over the top, and we were all thrilled

when we heard about it.”

To qualify for a $3.2 million state grant, library supporters

needed to raise a third of the grant value -- a little more than $1

million -- in private donations. More than 700 private donations were

received, but the Creans were the major contributors to the

$5.1-million, 14,000-square-foot project.

“It was a phenomenal campaign,” said Melissa Adams, spokeswoman

for the Newport Beach Public Library. “The Creans reached into their

pockets when it came down to the last minute on the scoreboard. ...

They got us over the top.”

Had the Creans not stepped forward, library supporters would have

had to ask the city for a contribution.

“We were very optimistic because it’s a very great project,”

Councilman Don Webb said. “I just think that it was a great statement

about the community that many people would care about trying to put

together a library that the public and the school can both use. We

just have a great community.”

The support for a library that initially stirred up controversy

has surprised, but pleased nearly everyone involved in moving the

project forward.

“I was very surprised and I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of

support,” Chase said. “I think it’s a great example of what you can

do when you set your mind to something. ... It’s a really nice

example of the way the city and the school district worked together.”

The library is expected to be completed in two years. Donations

will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].