Jan 8, 2004

Tour of new Vineland Branch Library gives Almaden seniors vision of future

By Miranda Schultz
Staff Writer

Seniors from the Almaden Community Center enjoyed a tour of the new Vineland Branch Library on Jan. 7, 10 days before the grand opening on the 17th. The Vineland Branch is the first project completed after Measure “O” was passed in November 2002. The city of San Jose received $211,790,000 in bonds to expand and improve aging neighborhood libraries and community centers.

The Vineland Library, located on Blossom Hill Road, is a 24,000-square-foot work of art, complete with a free Internet café and outdoor patio area. Not only that, the budget for the project was $7.8 million and it came in under at $7.2 million.

“One word, ‘WOW!” says Dennis McFerran, the outgoing president of the Senior Program.
The tour was offered to show seniors what they can expect in the future, as the Almaden Branch Library/Community Center will be rebuilt by 2006. The Almaden Branch Library is closed for the next two years during a complete makeover and creation of a joint community center and library including a gym, a cooking room, and arts/crafts room and a preschool. At this time, the temporary location for the community center has not been announced.

LeBoulanger Bakery donated baked good for the 65 seniors in attendance.