Published: April 11, 2010
Groundbreaking Kicks Off Expansion
of West San Jose Branch Library
SAN JOSE, Calif. – West San Jose residents joined city and library officials Saturday, April 10 to celebrate the groundbreaking for the construction of a new 10,420 sq. ft. library at 1230 Blaney Ave. The brief ceremony is the first step in replacing the original 5,880 sq. ft. library that served the Calabazas community since 1966.
The new library will be built on the adjacent parking lot. The building design by Krong Design, Inc. (San Jose, CA) features an Internet Café/Tech Center, community living room with a fireplace, teen room, group study area and a community room that will accommodate 68 persons; all newly added functional areas, not present in the original library. It will also have significantly more space for seating, collections and computers.
“As we face theses challenging economic times, it is critically important that we honor the financial commitment made by San José voters in 2000 to build and expand our services at public libraries.” stated Councilmember Pete Constant. “I call on the residents of District 1- and all of San José – to be vocal and demand that city leaders fix the structural budget deficit NOW, so that we can ensure our ability to actually open and staff the Calabazas Library once completed.”
Public art for the project will be created by Living Lenses by Living Lenses, the northern California-based, internationally acclaimed artist team of Po Shu Wang and Louise Bertelsen. The total project budget is $7.8 million.
Onset of construction also marks the beginning of fund-raising efforts to furnish and stock the library for opening day, projected to occur in 2011. Tax-deductible check donations to the Branching Out Campaign on behalf of Calabazas Branch Library may be addressed to San José Public Library Foundation, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, CA 95112-3580. Donations by credit card are also accepted online at http://www.sjplf.org/contribute.htm. For more information, contact the San José Public Library Foundation at (408) 808-2174.
Calabazas Library is the nineteenth of 20 projects that will be completed under the $212 million library branch bond measure, approved by voters in November 2000 and dedicated to the construction of six new and fourteen expanded branch libraries. At this stage, 15 new libraries have opened and three more are under construction.
While the new branch is under construction, Calabazas area residents continue to be welcomed at all branches of the San José Public Library System. Many will find the neighboring West Valley Branch Library, located at 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd. (408244-4747), to be most convenient.
All branch libraries are currently open Monday, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Tuesday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; and Thursday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
For updates on future branch library developments, visit www.newsanjoselibraries.com.
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