Residents expressed their willingness to have a "funky-shaped" building in order to save the beloved tree.

"Willow Glen needs a library that fits in with the community's appearance," said Janice Santos, a Willow Glen resident and member of the Friends of the Willow Glen Library. "The tree is part of the community and if it remains on the site, it becomes an integral part of the building, making it that much more dramatic."

Two of the three concepts presented at the Oct.11 meeting included the oak tree in its designs.

"The new library needs to be suitable to the community and designed in a way that the residents feel at home there," Steve Krong from Krong Design said.

The first concept keeps to the residential feel and has the library extending from Minnesota Avenue to the back of the lot as a rectangular building. This design incorporates the oak tree and builds around it, making it a focal point at the library's entrance. The entrance will face Minnesota and parking would be kept in the back, with a roundabout incorporated into the design for easy driving access. The second concept eliminates the oak tree. In both designs the tile mural on the library's patio will either stay in its current location or be relocated. The art was installed outside the library in 2000. It was painted by children and coordinated by Willow Glen artist Nina Koepcke.

The third design is setback further from the street, placing the building on the back lot of the site with the parking lot facing Minnesota Avenue. It will keep the tree and the existing tile art in their current locations, but the parking configuration does not allow easy access or exit. It is the least space-efficient of the three plans.

Although the majority of the people at the meeting favored the first concept, elements of the design still need to be worked out.

"The building's functionality is not ideal and there will be significant costs involved in building around the tree," Jeanette Coran from JCA Architects said.

Another problem the architects have to contend with is the different elevations on the site.

The current library was built in 1949 as two buildings. The back portion of the structure is 30 inches higher than the front. It was consolidated into one in 1964, creating its odd shape.

The architects will have raise the entire building to bring the project to the same level as the tree or build ramps up to the tree if the first concept is approved.

In addition to the different levels, the architects will also have to build at least 15 feet away from the oak in order to preserve the integrity of the root system.

Krong told residents no matter which concept is approved it cannot exceed the $6 million budget.

The aging 41-year-old Willow Glen facility is approximately 5,330 square feet. The city plans to expand it to 13,000 square feet. The one-story remodel is scheduled for completion by spring 2008. The renovation will also expand the parking lot from 27 to a maximum of 50 spaces.

The library is being reconstructed as a result of the Branch Library Bond Measure passed by voters in November 2000.

The bond provides $212 million over 10 years for the construction of six newly rebuilt and 14 expanded branch libraries in San Jose.