Jan 22, 2004

Vineland Branch Library open for business

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Blue skies, mild temperatures and hundreds of eager patrons anxiously awaited the long anticipated grand opening of the new Vineland Branch Library on Saturday—eager to see the new 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a model for other San Jose libraries slated to be built in the coming years—the benchmark for what other neighborhoods, including Almaden might expect.

With a collection of approximately 140,000 titles, 37 computers, 130 upholstered seats to relax and read in, a quiet study room, Internet café, family-oriented facilities, storytelling area, community room and children’s area, the library promises to provide hours of relaxation, research, play, and good old fashioned reading opportunities in a light, airy, open setting.

“I know you’ve been waiting a very long time for this day, said Library Director Jane Light. “I’m so happy that the sun is shining, and as you walk in the building, I know you will feel the sun shining inside too. The Vineland Library brings a true civic presence to this neighborhood—a place for the community to gather to learn, and a focal point for community pride. This building is going to serve the community for 30 or more years.”

In fact, the library opened a full month ahead of schedule and $500,000 under budget. The first library to be built with financing from Measure O, the library bond measure passed in November 2000, the Vineland Branch also received capital from the library special benefit funding, which served to finance the books and technology within the facility.

Hailed as being innovative and energy efficient, Light claims the library will be incredibly efficient in the way that it uses staff resources as well—representing the city’s practical assessment of limited resources, balanced against the needs and desires of its patrons. “We’re going to ask you to check out your own books and even sort the returns for us so that we can keep this library open with few staff,” she said.

“This is your reward,” said Mayor Ron Gonzales. “Through the efforts of Measure O, and the hard work of our city and library staff, we will be building five more libraries just like this. And we are going to be expanding another 14 libraries that already exist.”

Even in tough economic times, voters overwhelmingly approved Measure’s O and P, paving the way for new libraries and parks and Gonzales explained that it’s all about catching up. “It’s about making sure that the people of San Jose get the quality of services they deserve. Over 70% of you said loud and clear that you wanted to make sure that San Jose not only catches up, but stays ahead.”

“This has been a long time coming, but how sweet it is,” exclaimed Vice Mayor Pat Dando. “When you open a library, it’s really about dreams. There’s nothing more important to a community than to keep the dreams alive. It makes no difference how old you are, what profession you are or where you live, you can dream.”

Dando also stressed the need for teens to have a place where they could go and communicate as well as study—a need fulfilled with the new group study rooms. She also said the children’s area, unlike libraries of the past will not be a quiet place, yet one where kids will be allowed to be kids, with furniture [puzzle piece stools that actually piece together] designed just for kids. “We want to encourage children to giggle and to enjoy the wonder and the amusement of books,” said Dando.

Upon entering the library, one can’t miss the artwork by artist Deborah Mersky titled “Blossom Hill Vine,” that shines in silver through the large inner windows of the entry and reading areas, or the “Wall of Wonder,” a collection of metal building and entranceway images that represents limitless childhood imagination and exploration. Over the years, San Jose has earned national recognition for being one of the nation’s best in public art displays. The Vineland branch upholds that reputation.

Hundreds of Patrons were treated to refreshments and tours throughout the day and checkout lines snaked throughout the building, while the Castillero Middle School Band performed in the community room and children jockeyed for positions at the computers.

“We’re just delighted and thrilled by the huge turnout,” said Youth Services Librarian Ed Koetitz. “People seem to be totally enjoying the collection we have here.”

Sari [last name withheld] and her 13-year-old daughter Jessica were among the many Almaden residents touring the new library for the first time. “It’s gorgeous,” said Sari. “We live all the way down Almaden, so we’ll be looking forward to the opening of that branch, but this is amazing.”

“It has so many more books,” added Jessica. “The other library [Almaden] didn’t have as many.” Admittedly a Stephen King fan, she plans to spend a lot of time in the book section. “I love to read,” she said.

According to Koetitz, when the Almaden library re-opens sometime in 2006, the staff for the most part will remain at Vineland. New staff members and inventory from either the Cambrian or Pearl locations will move into the Almaden branch. “It will be a rotating thing,” he said. “By having this big, brand new branch, we get to start the process where we won’t have to box books for two or three years. We can simply move them and the staff to another location. However, some Chinese or Persian books might indeed go back to Almaden because there’s a large community there that those books serve.”