FUND-RAISERS TO HELP LIBRARY PLUG IN POKER NIGHT, BOOK SALES TO BENEFIT NEWEST BRANCH IN CANYON COUNTRY.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - With the new Canyon Country Library nearing completion, the Friends of the Libraries of the Santa Clarita Valley are stepping up efforts to raise money to buy the latest computer technology and other amenities.

The opening of the library, located at 18617 Soledad Canyon Road, is tentatively scheduled for August with 12,000 square feet of the facility to be used for library services and 5,000 square feet leased to College of the Canyons for satellite classrooms.

The Friends of the Libraries have set a goal of $50,000 and hope to reach it through community donations and two coming fund-raisers.

Old West Poker Night will take place down the street from the new location at Route 66, where the 1950s-style restaurant will be temporarily transformed into an Old West saloon complete with gambling tables from 7 to 10 p.m. April 19.

Guests must be at least 21. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds going to the Canyon Country Library. Tickets are available at any of the three Santa Clarita library branches or at the door.

``We're asking everyone to dress western and get into the spirit of the event,'' said Kiza Stratton, president of the Friends of the Library. ``Anyone who would like to help the library or would just like to have a fun night is welcome to attend.''

A silent auction will be held during Poker Night with items like trips, book collections and tickets to sporting events and theme parks, and local community leaders will be serving as blackjack dealers during the evening.

The semiannual book sale, which benefits all three local library branches, will take place May 18-21 at the Valencia Library, 23743 W. Valencia Blvd. Book donations are being accepted at the Valencia, Canyon Country and Newhall branches.

The book sales are big money-makers and usually net about $1,500 to $3,000 for each branch, according to Canyon Country Library manager Gerri Matthews.

The money will be used to increase the number of online catalogs, add more Internet access and more word processing equipment, Matthews said.

``We want to have the highest level of technology possible to offer our patrons,'' she said. ``The friends have raised $14,000 so far, which was used to purchase four new computer workstations, complete with software, that are earmarked for the children's section of the library.''

For information about either fund-raising event, or to donate to the fund for the new library, call Stratton at [phone] or the Canyon Country branch at [phone].