Briefly

Celebrations at Newport Beach libraries will mark the debut of a new

online catalog at 10 a.m. today. Refreshments will be served, and library

staff at the Central Library and the Balboa, Corona del Mar and Mariners

branches will be on hand at their respective libraries to answer

questions.

At all the free events, guests will have an opportunity to see how the

new automation system operates and to use it to check out books, CDs,

videos and other materials. The system features enhanced search

capabilities and the same screens in the library and at home. It will

allow customers to place holds on specific items in a series and to limit

searches to such items as books, videos, CDs, large print, juvenile

collection and recorded books.

In the near future, new book reviews will be posted on-screen.

Customers also will be able to view the table of contents and book

jackets of selected volumes.

Information: (949) 717-3801.

Makeba rescheduled to June performance

The Miriam Makeba concert scheduled to happen today at the Irvine

Barclay Theatre has been postponed for June 2002, with the exact date

still undetermined.

Tickets for the concert will be honored in June.

Makeba’s performance was supposed to open the Barclay and Philharmonic

Society’s 2001-02 World Stages series, which will now begin on Feb. 2

with Baaba Maal, a Senegalese performer.

Information: (949) 854-4646.