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Fans and patrons of Palo Alto’s Downtown Library have another month to visit the cozy branch before it closes down for a year.
The downtown branch is one of three local libraries slated for major renovations as part of the $76 million bond measure Palo Alto voters passed in November 2008. The branch will receive a host of mechanical and lighting upgrades and a new multipurpose room that could be used for community events and readings.
The Downtown Library will officially close for renovations at 6 p.m. on April 24 and reopen about a year later. The city plans to mark the beginning of the renovation with a ceremony on Friday, April 23, between noon and 1 p.m. at the downtown branch, 270 Forest Ave.
The small downtown library will be the first to undergo major fixes under the library bond. In June, the city plans to close down its busiest library branch, the Mitchell Park Library, and the adjoining Mitchell Park Community Center. Both facilities will also undergo major upgrades and expansions as part of the Measure N bond.
The widely used library and community center at 3700 and 3800 Middlefield Road will be equipped with new lighting, heating and air conditioning systems, as well as new reading rooms, program rooms, children’s areas and a small café. The 52-year-old library will also get expanded shelf space for its growing collection.
To accommodate the closure of the major branch, the city will open a temporary library at Cubberley Community Center at 4000 Middlefield Road. Library Director Diane Jennings said the Mitchell Park library is scheduled to be closed on June 5, after which time much of the furniture inside the library would be transferred to Cubberley.
Jennings said Mitchell Park is scheduled to shut down on June 5. The city’s target date for opening the Cubberley library is June 28.
Detailed plans for the proposed Mitchell Park Library and Community Center are available on the city’s web site.
Palo Alto plans to celebrate the launch of Mitchell Park Library and Community Center renovations with a June 12 ceremony, Jennings said.
The new and improved Mitchell Park facilities are scheduled to open in 2012. Once that happens, the city will shift its focus to the third bond-funded project: the expansion and renovation of the Main Library.
Darn, it thought it was closing down for good. Books are the devil.
Bummer, it’s very convenient and I use it frequently.
Head over to Mountain View’s library. It is a bit of a drive, but it is paradise.
Yes, it is wonderful. We should have hired their architect.
What a shame, but indeed I feared the worst when I read the headline. Wonder why the rennovations could not be done in a shorter time frame.
Interesting. All this talk about how vital the downtown library is. I imagine that in a year’s time most people will be so used to using Main library with the bigger space, bigger choices, etc. that returning to a small branch library may not happen.
never trust authorities
It does seem that the administration wants people to get used to going elsewhere, since they are planning for a whole year for internal construction. That’s a really long time. Not very efficient scheduling.
Sure, people will get used to going elsewhere, nothing unusual about that. You get used to all kinds of unpleasant events. Doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing.