Photograph by Paul Myers
Robert Ramirez, Javier Morales of California Coast Van and Storage and Sue Grant (left to right) pack some of Saratoga Community Libarary's 180,000 books. Some books will head for a temporary building during the construction of the new library; most will sit in storage until the renovation is complete in 18 months.
Borrowers keep books longer to assist with library relocation
By Oakley Brooks
Library Supervisor Dolly Barnes got an unexpected lift from her patrons in the last days before she recently shuttered the Saratoga Community Library.
Borrowers were allowed to keep their checked out books an extra four weeks, until the library reopens Sept. 4 in a temporary space behind Sacred Heart Church. Construction on a new, expanded library is scheduled to begin around the same time.
Barnes said her regulars took advantage in a big way--taking home vast quantities of videos, books-on-tape and best-sellers.
"It was sort of like a closing sale: certain collections are almost entirely out in the community," she said recently, chuckling. "It's one less thing we have to deal with in the move."
The renovated library will add 31,000 square feet to the existing18,000-square-foot facility. Under the city's current timeline, the $15 million construction project will be finished in November 2002 and the library will re-open in January 2003.
Beginning the first week in August, Barnes and her staff assisted California Coast Van and Storage with packing the library's 180,000-book collection. More than three-fourths of the books will head to storage. The rest, mainly newer bestsellers and reference books, will head to the temporary facility.
"You never want to see any library close," said Friends of the Saratoga Libraries President Chuck Page. "But knowing what we'll have--that's exciting."
Barnes said the library would attempt to make up for its smaller collection in the interim phase by continuing the inter-library loan system through which patrons can get books from libraries in surrounding communities.
Other services, such as children's story time and study hall sessions, will happen at other Saratoga locations throughout the library's 18-month temporary stage. Beginning in September, the family and toddler story times will take place in the patio room of the Saratoga Community Center.
Barnes said she's continuing to talk with Redwood Middle School about relocating the study hall sessions there.
Portable units that will house the temporary library were scheduled to arrive in the Sacred Heart parking lot early this week. Assistant City Manager Lorie Tinfow, who's coordinating the library project for the city, said basketball courts were cleared and a fence erected to accommodate the temporary facility.
Over the next few weeks, Tinfow said, the portable units would receive water, electricity and telecommunications lines. The units also need stairs and handicapped ramps.
Though the extensive improvements could delay the opening of the temporary facilities, Tinfow said September 4 is still the target date.
While the library faithful wait for the temporary library to open, they've been paying visits to the Cupertino and Campbell branches of the Santa Clara County Library. Barnes has even sent several of her staffers to those two branches to assist with the increased customer load.
Page said he has used the Internet to locate books at the Cupertino and Campbell branches, then headed over to pick them up.
He, Barnes and Tinfow will be on hand, along with other city officials, at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8 for the renovation groundbreaking ceremony near the old library building.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
