complex shuffle of staff and services triggered by the Children's Library's temporary closure and remodel, could cost the already small Downtown branch some of its public space.
The rebuild of the Children's Library is scheduled to begin in September and could last 18 to 24 months.
After the branch closes, walls will be removed from the Main Library to make room for expanded teen programs and for younger children's programs displaced by the construction. The circulation desk will also be rebuilt to accommodate new self-checkout machines.
Other improvements will change how materials are presented, according to city officials.
To make additional room at the Main Library, though, workers who order books and prepare them for shelving will move from the Main Library to the Downtown Library. Some other city employees, who are not library staff but are headquartered at the downtown branch, will move once that happens.
Despite such adjustments, city plans call for the public's space -- as opposed to space cordoned off for city staff -- at the Downtown Library to lessen from 6,125 square feet to 4,500 square feet.
"That's very worrisome," said Elaine Meyer, the president of the University South Neighborhood Association.
Last Monday night, the City Council approved $352,392 for the staff to rework the libraries as the Children's Library construction begins.
During the meeting, Meyer and members of the Friends of the Palo Alto Library expressed concern the proposal escaped close scrutiny. The entire plan was categorized under the name "Main Library Space Reconfiguration," even though it also impacts the Downtown Library.
"Library users should get to know what happens in their library," Friends President Jeff Levinsky said.
Library administrators say they intend to inform patrons and the Library Advisory Commission of plans once everything is more concrete. The council's action last week simply allocated funds, according to Diane Jennings, the manager of the Main Library.
Still, the transformation at the Downtown Library is planned to be long-term and will not be rolled back once the Children's Library reopens, Jennings said. Many of the changes are desires long held by library administrators.
The use of the Downtown Library has been a constant source of tension. In 2003, the Library Advisory Commission voted to close the Downtown Library to make more room at other, more popular branches. The council rejected that plan after the Friends opposed.
Last year, Library Director Paula Simpson floated a plan that would have closed both the Downtown and College Terrace libraries, but the council rejected that as well. City Councilwoman Yoriko Kishimoto said city staff needed to recognize the council wants to keep branch libraries open.
"We want to move away from this kind of steady deterioration," she said.
The construction of Children's Library was originally scheduled to begin in late July, but is now scheduled for early September. The process of getting approval from the various city commissions is going a bit slower than expected, mostly due to the age of the historic building.
But regardless, city officials insist it's a preferable timetable. More children use the library during the summer and timing it with the reopening of school will make for an easier transition, according to Melinda Wing, who manages the Children's Library.
The $2.2 million construction will expand the Children's Library from 3,200 square feet to 5,410 square feet. A new north wing and south addition will be added, the roof will be repaired, and the library will be seismically retrofitted.
It's the first major construction project for the building, which opened in 1940.
Architects are currently designing the interior of the new building.
"They have so many great ideas about bringing out the childlike nature of this building," Wing said.
Staff Writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com.
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