Library is Packed for Anniversary Celebration

Beautiful endangered animals, cake, balloons, books and smiles all around. That is how the celebrated turning one.

Community members young and old turned up at the library on Saturday to enjoy the state-of-the-art facility and partake in the day’s festivities, which included a book sale and birthday cake.

Since opening in June 2010 (the party happened a few weeks early) the library has been a hub for the community, with approximately 15,000 visitors coming through its doors each month, a third more than used to visit the old library.

Outfitted with the latest technology, a children’s literacy center and play area, teen room with a Wii gaming wall, media center, free Wi-Fi and a wide selection of books, periodicals, DVDs and CDs, the library has something to offer everyone, and one year later they are still coming in droves.

“It’s great, just as great as the day it opened,” said Teresa Landers, director of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. “The public just loves this building. It’s just a vibrant place and a wonderful place for the community.”

Councilman Jim Reed, who also sits on the Santa Cruz Public Library Joint Powers Authority Board, attended the celebration. Reed was involved in the planning of the new library since its early stages and said he is really happy with how it turned out and how the community is enjoying it.

“I’ve seen [the library] from the very first architect’s inspiration to this,” Reed said. “When it actually becomes a reality, it’s just infinitely greater than you could have imagined. The sum of the parts just blows you away. I think the community is reacting the same way.”

There are a few new things in the works that patrons can look forward to as the library grows up. Landers said that the library has purchased 24 new laptop computers that guests can checkout and use in the facility. Currently four are available but the rest will be in commission shortly.

“It’s a matter of bandwidth and that’s getting expanded,” Landers said. “When we opened, we knew we didn’t have enough wired computers for people and our intention always was to have these laptops. It’s taken us a while but we are finally getting it done.”

Another exciting new feature of the library will be its new outdoor patio. The Friends of the Scotts Valley Library have taken on the project and are currently fundraising to get it off the ground. The project is expected to cost between $80,000 and $100,000.

“I’m really excited about the Friends taking on the back patio,” Landers said. “A year ago, I didn’t even think it was a possibility. I just hope we can get the financial support we need from the community to make that happen. It will extend this building into another beautiful wonderful space.”

The Friends have also commissioned a new art installation as a part of the one-year anniversary, and it will be housed permanently in the library. The installation, from local artist Beth Allison Gripenstraw, will feature 10 pieces from her ‘Endangered Species’ sculpture collection. It was made possible by an endowment from Dorothy Hale, and is a playful, yet informative new addition to the space.

“It’s a huge space and it lends itself to big sculptural pieces,” said Valri Peyser, who oversees the library’s Art in the Library program. “The response from the children and the adults has been great. [The installation] just creates a really nice energy in the library.”

For information on the library and its programs, visit www.santacruzpl.org/branches/12/. For information on donating to the Friends to help build the new patio, visit www.fsvpl.org/. There are several donor opportunities available, including having your name on a commemorative wooden plank that will be placed in the walkway of the new patio.