September 1, 2008

New library impresses on opening day

Willow Glen Branch Library opens doors

By Carol Rosen
Editor

The new Willow Glen Branch Library opened its doors to the public Saturday, Aug. 23, and everyone seemed to think the new building was “awesome.”

Prior to its opening, a number of folks on the e-list did not appear too happy with the more modern architecture outside of the building, but that changed when they entered the new, larger and more comfortable space, with calling the new branch “terrific,” “awesome” and “fabulous.”

More than 1,000 people crowded together, including a couple on a balcony facing the library, to hear the speeches before Mayor Chuck Reed, Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio, Library Director Jane Light and Library Manager Carol da Silva cut the ribbon and the throng entered the new building, which is nearly three times the square footage of the old building.

During the day, people entered the library taking home books, magazines, DVDs and CDs.

“I think they made really nice use of the site,” said Willow Glen resident Charles Lindsey, who plans to be a regular at the library along with his wife and young son Truman. “They made good use of the light, preserved the oak tree and the artist brought in a sense of Willow Glen. It’s new, but it feels integrated to the look and feel of Willow Glen. They made it comfortable,” he said.

“I think it’s awesome,” said another local resident Stu Slack. “It has brand new books and multiple copies of books. I’m very impressed.”

Marybeth Macey said she was happy the wait was over. “I think it’s beautiful,” she said. “But we waited a long time for it. We came to the old library to read and it was a big part of our lives. I’m happy that it’s back in the neighborhood,” she said.

“This is a terrific day in Willow Glen,” said Reed. “There’s nothing better than opening a new library. It’s a very nice design and the kid’s room is terrific.”

The people who attended the opening were quite impressed, especially with the children’s area filled with brand new books, and multiple copies of many of these books, noted Oliverio. They were astonished by the leaf design, which includes a child-sized leaf opening for kids to enter—adults have a regular door. The area is full of bright colors and comfortable seating and is a far cry from the small area children’s books held at the older library, which had no room for story telling.

The new building occupies 13,338 square feet compared with 5,330 in the old building. It offers 27 computers—there were eight before—and nearly three times the seating, 84 now compared with 32 previously. The old library did not have a group study area, which now has room for six people; a quiet study area—now offering room for eight; a story telling area for 25 people and a community room for 50. The community room has an outside entrance and can be used when the library is not open. It is connected to restrooms and offers a small kitchenette for meeting refreshments.

The parking lot now has 45 spaces compared with 27 previously, or it can hold nearly 1,000 people. There is also a new glassed-in teen room, an Internet café, currently using vending machines but likely to become a café within several months. There also are innovative chairs with woven seats and backs. The chairs, which are quite comfortable, even follow the city’s green policy, the strips are woven from car seat belts.

One thing the community asked for and received was a patio, which houses the oak tree and the mosaic tile from the old library. The patio, which had marked the outer perimeter of the old library, offers colored glass on three sides and a wood fence. It will have outdoor furniture for those wanting to sit outside during warmer, dry months and can be viewed from seats in the magazine room and the children’s library on rainy days.

There is a two-sided fireplace, skylights and a trellis affect throughout the building. The design is lavish with wooden fixtures. It has two in-doors, one for walkers, which also features a patio in front and a door from the parking lot.

The public art was created by Bay Area artist David Ruth and is entitled the “Wind in the Willow.” It features 54 glass windows varying in size from 6 to 27 inches square. It’s installed in an asymmetrical pattern across the west wall of the library. The windows are intended to capture the feeling of light as it filters through tree branches, particularly willow tress. It is made of borosilicate glass able to withstand the dramatic seasonal temperatures and works as a filter for afternoon light.

The windows are fused and highly polished glass. Ruth, who met with Willow Glen residents to capture their feelings and help shape the window’s concept, is a glass sculptor whose work is featured in prominent international and local collections.

The library, which is the 13th in the series of 20 city branches that are being remodeled or rebuilt through a bond measure voted on by San Jose residents in 2000, received the most money through the most donors of any of those previously done.

More than 500 donors contributed more than $300,000 and the money continues to come in. The library will be accepting donations for the next four to six months. This money pays for everything not nailed down, the furniture, books, magazine subscriptions and so forth.

The laureate donors, those giving $5,000 or more include AT&T, which provided $50,000 for the tech centers; the family of Nancy Biagini, which provided the fireside living room; Michael and Tamara Archer, who provided the money for the Marketplace reading area; SDS NexGen Partners LP and the Mulcahy Family, which provided the children’s story time area; in tribute to Conrad and Irene Bergmann, the quiet study room; the Friends of the Willow Glen Library, the courtyard; the Kilmartin family, the self check-out area; Willow Glen Middle and High School Foundation, the group study room; Ann and Tom Atkinson, the Friends book alcove; Sally Bursch Cihos, Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel, Inc.; Pio, Nancy and Andrew Ianni; Nora and Roger Moore; Vin Santo, Bruce and Lisa Vong and family; and the Willow Glen Business Association.

More than 75 people donated $1,000 or more while nearly 500 more contributed other amounts.

Oliverio mentioned that the library was finished on time and under budget, the groundbreaking was held in December 2006 with completion in August. The project was managed by Domenic Onorato, the Public Works Department and the city’s Facilities Architectural Services Division. The project team included director Richard Desmond, project coordinator Lisa Valerio and the branch library development team, Krong Design, Inc. and JCA Architects designed the building and the general contractor was Ralph Larsen & Son, Inc.

The Willow Glen Branch Library is located at 1157 Minnesota Ave, and can be contacted by calling (408) 808-3045. It is open on Mondays from 2 to 7 p.m.; Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photos by Carol Rosen