January 18, 2008

Building a dream

Groundbreaking for New Santa Teresa Library
attended by residents and City officials

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Long a dream of the residents of the area, the new Santa Teresa Library had its official ground breaking on Jan. 12.

An architectural rendering of the new Santa Teresa Public Library scheduled to open 18 months from the groundbreaking on Jan. 12. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

The wait was worthwhile. The original 13,860 square foot library, which was built in 1984 and was one of the busiest libraries in San Jose, will be bulldozed and replaced with a 22,000 square foot state-of-the-art building. The new Santa Teresa Library incorporates features that have become standard for new library construction: an Internet Café, community living room with fireplace, technology center, teen room, group and quiet study areas, and a community room that will accommodate 100 people. And there will be significantly more space inside for seating, collections and computers.

“The people told us we needed a new library,” said District 2 Councilmember Forrest Williams. “It’s too small; it doesn’t have all the amenities that we need. They voted to confirm their commitment by asking the $212 million branch library expansion for the project for the city of San Jose. We are fulfilling that obligation to the community.”

The Santa Teresa Library is the fifteenth branch bond project to break ground. The Branch Library Bond Measure, approved in 2000, provides $212 million over 10 years dedicated to the construction of six new and 14 expanded branch libraries in San Jose. The cost of the Santa Teresa Branch Library is budgeted at $13,618,000 million.

Relax, read, knowledge San Jose Public Library Foundation member Mary McLane collected donations for computers, technology and furnishings for the new Santa Teresa Public Library.

“We look at the library as a vital dynamic place where people come to be part of their community and learn and enjoy,” said San Jose assistant library director Ned Himmel. “This building will have all that available.”

The new library will be built on the original site at 290 International Circle. The unique design by the international firm STUDIOS Architecture and city designers encompasses full advantage of the open nature of the location using glass to create light-filled spaces. It is also a green building. But long before the architects did their work, the city had many meetings with the community for the input on the project.

“I went to all of the meetings,” said Nancy Brauch, a Santa Teresa resident who has lived in the area 36-years. “I remember using the Bookmobile before this library was built. Then I’d be here a couple times a week. The library is so important to residents. I was very interested that the city puts 2 percent of the budget into public art. And the best thing is they’re moving it closer to the street [Santa Teresa Boulevard] and will be more visible.”

French artist Beatrice Coron has been commissioned to develop art for the new Santa Teresa Branch Library around the theme of “Cultivate Your Mind in the Orchard of Knowledge.” The artwork combines three key elements: an orchard walk sidewalk insets of stainless steel and framed granite; three glass tree of knowledge windows and a sculptural element in the form of a tall flourishing tree called the bibbliotree.

Relax, read, knowledge were the wishes Oak Grove School District Trustee and District 2 city council candidate Jacqueline Adams wrote on her dream rock that will be placed in the foundation of the new Santa Teresa Public Library.

The contract for the new library was signed Jan. 15 with demolition scheduled for 30 days later, reported Himmel. Items will be recycled and the building will be constructed with energy efficient heating and ventilation. The city had looked at expanding the original building but with only a 3 percent savings felt it was a better use of the bond money to rebuild the entire structure as well as include additional parking for 75 spaces. The new branch should be completed in 18 months. But that $13 million only covers the construction.

“The foundation is probably the least known of all the community’s organizations,” said San Jose Public Library Foundation [SJPLF] vice-president Leslie Parks. “Our role is to raise money for anything that isn’t nailed down in the library. We need to fill up the building with technology, books and furnishings. We need your help to make donations to help fund those important items.”

Parks and fellow SJPLF staff member Mary McLane were excited that someone had donated $1000 for the foundation at the groundbreaking. For as little as $100 a donor can honor a friend or family member and their name will be inscribed on a donor wall. But no amount is too small to donate for the 36 new computers, furniture to seat 165 and the books needed to stock the new Santa Teresa Branch Library. Any donation is appreciated.

“We come together in our local libraries as a community and bond as a family,” said Library Commission Chair Caroline Martin. “We choose special books together, watch puppet shows or take a few quiet moments. You have something fabulous to look at esthetically as well as to use.”

But not only is the Santa Teresa Branch Library a dream come true for residents and the city, it is built on dreams. Dream Rocks, inscribed by the attendees of the groundbreaking with the hopes and wishes for the new library, is part of the foundation.

For more information on the San Jose Public Library Foundation visit www.sjplf.org or send a check to SJPLF, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, Calif. 95112.