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New
and renovated library openings around the state
Bond Act Library Openings Monterey
Park Bruggemeyer Library The
newly renovated and expanded Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library in the
City of Monterey Park opened on Saturday, September 9, 2006. The library, located
in a dramatically diverse community that has 61.5% Asian and 28.9% Hispanic
populations, includes more than 340 user seats, 90 technology stations,
collections in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish languages, and expanded
areas where children and teens can get homework assistance. For complete details about the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library construction project, please visit their page on the OLC website. Hesperia
Branch Library Hesperia
Branch Library, a branch of the San
Bernardino County Library, was officially opened on Saturday, October 14,
2006. The new 20,000 square foot facility provides more resources and
services for children and youth (73% of the residents live in households with
children). The library features a fireside reading area, a community room
that supports multi-media events, and a computer center with 20 personal
computers where members of the community can receive training. For
complete details about the Hesperia Branch Library construction project, please
visit their
page on the OLC
website. Castroville
Library Castroville
Library (Andy Ausonio Library), a branch of the Monterey
County Library, held its grand opening on Saturday, September 29, 2006.
In addition to housing the 9,163 square foot library, the plaza also
includes a 4,900 square foot Family Resource Center that houses the Monterey
County's Head Start Program. In 1863 Don Manuel Castro, one of the community's
founders, donated the land on which the buildings sit. The creation of the
plaza fulfills a 142-year old promise to establish a central gathering place for
families in the community. For complete details about the Castroville Library construction project, please visit their page on the OLC website. Hercules
Library Hercules
Library, the newest addition to the Contra
Costa County Library, held its grand opening on Saturday, November
11, 2006. The 21,500 square foot library includes state-of-the-art technology, a
computer/homework center for children and teens, and a fireplace area for
relaxed reading. Hercules also has a Children's Story Cone, Children's
Garden, and a Teen Center. For complete details about the Hercules Library
construction project, please visit their
page on the OLC
website. Alameda Free LIbrary On
Thursday, November 2, 2006, the new Alameda Free Library was officially opened.
The new 47,500 square foot building replaces the city's 1903 Carnegie Library,
and includes seating for 590 people, public meeting rooms, a 20 seat computer
lab, 75 public computers, a cafe, and special spaces for quiet reading for
teens, family literacy activities, homework assistance, and children's programs.
For complete details about the Alameda Free Library construction project. please
visit their page on the OLC
website. Locally
funded library openings Some
California libraries have resourcefully raised locally, all 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. Carmichael
Library The
newly remodeled Carmichael Library, a branch of Sacramento
Public Library, opened on September 17 much to the delight of the Carmichael
community. The new facility,
designed by Noll and Tam Architects of Berkeley, has been expanded to 20,690
square feet and cost $6.8 million, the funding for which came from California
Tobacco Litigation Settlement Funds provided by the County of Sacramento and the
Sacramento County Library Fund. The
new Carmichael Library is a light-infused environment enhanced with open
ceilings and expanded windows. The
Adult Reading Area, surrounded by floor to ceiling windows, looks out to a
beautifully landscaped patio. The
Computer Center has 24 workstations, allowing the library to offer computer
classes for customers of all ages. The
Carmichael Library Kids’ Place includes spaces appealing to children and their
caregivers. It boasts an
acoustically enhanced naturally lit reading tower conducive to story times in
which a metal sculpture, “Autograph” by Chico artist Sheri Simons, hangs.
The Kids’ Place has six computers, including two with early-literacy software
and learning games for children, eight years and younger.
An interactive LeapPad and LeapBooks learning system helps children
develop language, reading, and other critical skills, through electronic books
and special touch pens. The Kids’ Place also has a cozy “Ready to Read”
space for families to share stories with toddlers and pre-school children. The
Carmichael Library’s Teens@ gives teens a space designed just for them.
The teen area includes diner-style booths, colorful and comfortable curl
up-and-read chairs, innovative computer tables, and a large plasma television. The
new Carmichael Library has a community meeting room, self check-out machines,
new furnishings for the updated, bright and spacious interior, a special Persian
Collection, 42 public access computer terminals, nearly 8,000 new books, and a
multitude of improvements in customer requested, on-site, and online services. For
more information about the Carmichael Library contact project manager Lois Ross
at (916) 264-2709. Palos
Verdes Library District Teen Annex The
Palos Verdes Library District opened a Teen
Annex at its Peninsula Center Library branch September 2006.
The
Teen Annex was funded through a partnership of the Palos
Verdes Library District (PVLD); the Peninsula
Friends of the Library; donors to PVLD; and Freedom4U, a Palos Verdes-based
non-profit organization focused on creative arts, leadership and community
service that promotes these healthy and safe options to local teens. Palos
Verdes Teen Annex is a supervised space for students in grades 6 – 12. Young
customers have access to games, computers, and other sources of information and
entertainment in the Annex. On
weekend afternoons and evenings Freedom4U staff and volunteers at the Annex host
social events such as unplugged music, jazz, improv, drama, life skills
workshops, mentoring programs, and guest lectures. The
Annex’s more than 500 popular paperback titles reflect teen requests,
bestseller lists, American Library Association recommended reading lists as well
as local school reading lists. The Annex also offers youth over 25 magazines
covering sports, fashion, gaming, entertainment, world events and hobbies as
well as over 100 graphic novels. For
more information about the Teen Annex at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Center
Library branch, please call 310-377-9584, x600 or check out the library’s
website at www.pvld.org |
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