Willow Glen Resident
News
Willow Glen Library plans to close in August for 18 months
By Laura Rheinheimer
Willow Glen Library is scheduled to close in the next 10 days, forcing patrons to go elsewhere for 18 months.
The library will close on Aug. 12; the 57-year-old building will be torn down and rebuilt. Construction is scheduled to start in October and end in April 2008.
Signs posted throughout the library tell patrons the final day for donating books has passed. The library's collection will head to the San Jose Library Evergreen branch to help fill its rebuilt facility that is scheduled to open Sept. 16.
When the Willow Glen library does reopen, its book collection will be a mix of new materials and books from Calabazas library, which will close for construction, said Richard Desmond, director of branch library development.
Desmond said the new library collection will have 75,000 volumes, whereas the current collection has 50,000 volumes.
The bond measure, which funds the construction of the new library, does not cover the cost of furniture or books. Money from a construction and conveyance tax, along with fundraising dollars, will be used to cover the expanded collection and new furniture.
Willow Glen library branch manager Ruth Kohan suggests library users go to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. library on Fourth and San Fernando streets; Biblioteca Latinoamericana, which has a limited collection in English; the Rose Garden branch on Naglee Avenue; or Tully Community library, which is part of the Santa Clara County library system but already used by some Willow Glen residents Kohan said. Other nearby libraries are the Vineland branch at 1450 Blossom Hill Road; the Campbell library, a Santa Clara County library, at 77 Harrison Ave.; and the Cambrian branch, 1780 Hillsdale Ave., which will reopen in the fall.
The rebuilt Willow Glen library, funded by a bond measure approved in November 2000, will add 7,670 square feet, which will more than double the number of computers, new study and storytelling areas, a community room, more seats and parking spaces. The existing ceramic tile artwork and an oak tree will be the centerpieces of a courtyard, which will be visible from all areas of the facility.
Oren Ridenour, who spends his summers in Willow Glen, said he relies on the library every day for the Internet because he has problems connecting at home. He said he bikes from his home to the library and will miss its proximity.
"One of the really great things about the library for Willow Glen residents is accessibility. They can get here without driving," Ridenour said.
With the library closing in 10 days, he will switch from bicycle to car so he can use the main library downtown or the Rose Garden branch.
"I'm excited they're building a new library; it's just a shame they're tearing this one down," said Theresa Wessels, who lives across the street.
"We're going to miss it," said Wessels, who brings her children to the library so they can participate in a summer reading program.
The program, which aims to encourage children to read and rewards them with prizes, will end at the Willow Glen branch on Aug. 12.
A final party on Aug. 12 will allow users to browse through scrapbooks and view the history of the library.
Terri Farnstrom, co-chairwoman of the Friends of the Willow Glen Library, said she will keep the group afloat during the reconstruction phase. She hopes to schedule the group's annual meetings at a member's home instead of the library.
In the meantime, Farnstrom said she is reserving the stocked books for future book sales and checking out alternate choices for library services. When the library is set to reopen, the Friends plan to assist, Farnstrom said.
For more information about branch locations, go to the San Jose Public Library website at www.sjlibrary.org.
