|
Bond
Act Library Openings
Several
new or renovated California libraries that were
funded by the 2000 Library Bond Act opened over
the spring and summer of 2006. Below are snapshots
of these elegant architectural accomplishments.
For
additional information about these libraries and
other 2000 Library Bond Act-funded libraries,
please visit the Office of Library Construction website.
Pickleweed
Park Community Center and Library, a branch of the
San Rafael Public Library
Pickleweed
Park Community Center and Library, a branch of
the San
Rafael Public Library, was officially opened
on Saturday, July 15, 2006. The library, which is
located in a densely populated, multi-cultural,
and low-income part of the canal area in San
Rafael, was the first Bond Act funded library to
open in northern California (and more are coming).
.jpg)
Pickleweed
Park Community Center and Library Opening Day.
[Photo courtesy San Rafael Public Library]
For
complete details about the Pickleweed Park
Community Center and Library construction project
please visit their page
on the OLC website.
Haskett
Branch Library
Haskett
Branch Library, a branch of the Anaheim
Public Library, which opened on Saturday, May
20, 2006, is named after the city's first
children's librarian, Elva L. Haskett. Set in a
neighborhood park in West Anaheim, the library
features a shaded reading garden, a study space
for middle schoolers, special areas designed
especially for adults, children and families,
teens and “t’weens” and much, much more.
Customers
browse new books at Haskett Branch Library
[Photo courtesy Anaheim
Public Library]
Reading
garden at Haskett Branch Library.
[Photo courtesy Anaheim Public Library]
For
complete details about the Haskett Branch Library
construction project please visit their page
on the OLC website.
Victoria
Gardens Library
| Victoria
Gardens Library, a branch of the Rancho
Cucamonga Public Library, opened on Friday,
August 18. This branch is part of the
Victoria Gardens Cultural Center that also
features a Children's Theater and Events Center
and is a place to bring imagination, ideas, and
people together.
For
complete details about the Victoria Gardens
Library construction project please visit their page
on the OLC website.
|
Reading
area Victoria Gardens Library.
[Photo courtesy City
of Rancho Cucamonga]
|
Victoria
Gardens Library
[Photo courtesy City of Rancho Cucamonga]
State
Librarian Susan Hildreth addresses 600 invited
guests at Victoria Gardens Opening with (l-r) City
of Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Bill Alexander, Mayor
pro Tem Diane Williams and Council members Rex
Gutierrez, L. Dennis Michael, and Sam Spagnolo seated in front row.
[Photo courtesy City of Rancho Cucamonga]
San
Mateo Main Library
San
Mateo Main Library, a three floor 90,000 square
foot building featuring both extraordinary social
and studious spaces, opened Sunday, August 27.
State Librarian Susan Hildreth attended the grand
opening and was “thrilled” to see throngs of eager
customers waiting to get their first glimpse of
their community’s new multi-purpose facility.
San
Mateo Library Opening Day attracted over 6500
eager customers.
[Photo courtesy swaffordimaging.com]
|
San
Mateo Public Library Director Ben Ocón with State Librarian Susan
Hildreth.
[Photo courtesy swaffordimaging.com]
|
Once
inside, customers were greeted by sleek,
flat-screen computer monitors dotting open, airy
areas between stacks of books, a cafe next to a
teen lounge with brightly colored, diner-style
booths and a media center.
San
Mateo Main Library, which
has wireless Internet service, 100 public
computers and an automated check-in system that
sorts books electronically,
is located near 300 biotech companies and
boasts a Biotech Library and Learning Center.
The new library was also designed to have a
minimal impact on the environment.
For
complete details about the San Mateo Main Library
construction project, please visit their page on
the OLC website.
Locally
funded library openings
Some
California libraries have resourcefully raised funds for
constructing or renovating library facilities in
their communities. If you know of a library
construction or renovation project in your area,
please email
CSL Connection Editor Sarah Dalton and we
will include a profile of that library in an
upcoming issue of CSL Connection.
Mission
Bay Branch Library
|
Former
San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Mayor Newsom at Mission
Bay Branch opening.
[Photo courtesy Steve
Rhodes]
|
July
8th, 2006 was a great day in San Francisco! The Mission
Bay Branch Library, the first new branch in
the San Francisco
Public Library (SFPL) system in 40 years,
opened its doors to the public. Attending the
sunny opening day festivities were San Francisco
Mayor Gavin Newsom, former San Francisco Mayor
Willie Brown, State Librarian Susan Hildreth, and
City Librarian Luis Herrera.
A
unique partnership between SFPL and the San
Francisco Redevelopment Agency created the
opportunity for this 7,500 square-foot branch to
be co-located on the first floor of a senior
housing complex. The city’s Branch Library
Improvement Program funded the branch’s
construction; and funds for furnishings and
equipment were the result of a neighborhood
capital campaign that the Friends
of the San Francisco Public Library
spearheaded. The Mission Bay Branch’s diverse
collection of 34,000 books, CD’s and DVD’s
will provide great service to this newly
developing neighborhood.
Mission
Bay Branch
Library.
[Photo courtesy Steve
Rhodes]
State
Librarian Susan Hildreth (right), City Librarian
Luis Herrera (center), San Francisco Mayor Gavin
Newsom (at left), San Francisco Supervisor Chris
Daly (far left) cut ribbon of Mission Bay Branch
Library.
[Photo courtesy Steve
Rhodes]
Thousand
Oaks Library’s Children’s Library
The
Thousand
Oaks Library held the grand opening for its expanded
Children’s Library on Saturday, June 24,
2006. The carnival-like community event drew
approximately 5,000 people and featured outdoor
booths, family activities, author signings, and
demonstrations of local police equipment. Six
local children helped the mayor of Thousand Oaks
in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
|
Outdoor
festivities at opening of Thousand Oaks Library's
expanded Children's Library.
[Photo courtesy Thousand Oaks Library]
|
Thousand
Oaks Library’s stunning new $14 million
Children’s Library, which the entire library
staff helped plan, was funded entirely by the City
of Thousand Oaks. The 22,000 square foot
facility includes 130,000 books housed on shelving
units with brightly colored end panels and canopy
tops. It has 15 computers, quiet study areas, a
vibrant program room, a Children’s Garden, an
outdoor courtyard and a 30-foot high coast wall
depicting the California coastline in deep blue
glass and rich brown wood. The facility also
boasts a 3,600-gallon saltwater aquarium that cost
over $100,000 and was funded by the Friends of the
Thousand Oaks Library.
Thousand
Oaks Library Director Steve Brogden says the city,
which has a long history of supporting community
children and youth activities, began planning the
Children’s Library expansion in 2000. The city
of Thousand Oaks financed the Children’s Library
and in return, the community is using the expanded
Children’s Library in droves. Brogden says: “I
am so proud of the city for building this
Children’s Library. It is a community showplace.
People are even bringing their out-of-town guests
to show off their library!”
Interior
of Thousand Oaks expanded Children's Library
opening day.
[Photo courtesy Thousand Oaks Library]
|
