Willow Glen Resident
News
Library commission OKs audit of bond funds as work continues
By Eli Segall
The reopening of revamped and rebuilt San Jose libraries has become a familiar sight in many communities.
The San Jose Library Commission on Nov. 8 met to discuss the seven branches that have either had major renovations or were newly constructed and to discuss future projects and spending.
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2005-06 audit reports that outlined bond money expenditures being used for the new libraries.
The library building bonanza has been in the works since the passage of a 2000 bond measure and was aided by a 2004 parcel tax. With voter approval, the city undertook a sweeping overhaul of its library system.
Of San Jose's 21 public libraries, eight have been rebuilt or renovated, four are under construction, five are in preliminary design stages and three more are in the pipeline for extreme makeovers.
One of those is the old Willow Glen Library branch on Minnesota Avenue that has been closed since August.
The library commission will break tradition for this branch and have a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 2 even though a contractor has not been awarded the project.
Commissioner Jane Light said the commissioners decided to have the ceremony early to allow San Jose City Councilman Ken Yeager to attend the event before moving into his new seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. The library is scheduled to reopen on July 2008; at that time the West San Jose Calabazas branch will close for major renovations. Its staff and materials will be transferred to Willow Glen.
The next library in the group to reopen is the Cambrian branch. On Nov. 18 the 27,800-square-foot library will welcome the public to its renovated and improved facility.
The two-year closures per project have frustrated some community members.
Jane Darrow, a member of Pinehurst Neighborhood Association, told commissioners she was concerned about the rebuilding timetable for the Pearl Avenue Library, which is her local branch. She was particularly worried an indefinitely closed library could hurt the branch's ongoing fundraising efforts.
"We had our groundbreaking ceremony in September, but still nothing has happened," Darrow said. "It seems like it will be closed a long time, and people get turned off by that."
The Pearl Avenue library, which closed its doors in April, had its groundbreaking ceremony attended by a host of city officials, including Mayor Ron Gonzales. Construction on the $9.3-million project was slated to begin Nov. 1.
Library commissioners assured Darrow the project would start "very soon," but did not give a specific date.
The 2000 branch library bond measure provides the city with $212 million over 10 years to rebuild six new libraries and renovate and expand 14 others. The bond monies have been designated specifically for facility construction. The November 2004 library parcel tax secured an additional $6.2 million annually for library materials, equipment, staffing, and programs.
For branch library updates, call 408.
535.8450 or visit www.newsanjose
libraries.com.
