It wasn't the barrel-vaulted ceilings or the or the large multipurpose room or even the planned artificial tree in the children's section that garnered the biggest response on Friday's tour of the new Santa Maria library.

It was the large wraparound storage room in the children's section that had librarians Cathy Allee and Jennifer Newell grinning ear to ear.

“There hasn't been enough storage for 15 years,” Newell said, as she stood in the vast space.

Newell, Allee and about a dozen other people toured the roughly 60,000-square-foot facility, which is under construction and expected to open later this year.

Bare drywall, exposed steel and hanging wires greeted the tour, but with a little imagination, it was easy to see what the end result will be.

“Fabulous and amazing,” Allee said as she walked out of the building and into the evening air.

With a price tag of about $20 million, the new facility is will be roughly double the size of the current library.

Advertisement

In particular, a lot of effort has been placed on the children's section to create a family destination. Dubbed the Enchanted Forest, the children's library features interesting shapes in the ceiling, more computers and a large artificial “tree of knowledge” just inside the entrance.

The space also includes a small theater that opens into a secured courtyard.

“It's busy now,” Newell said of the old library's children's section, “but it's going to be unbelievable when we get in here.”

City staff, members of Friends of the Santa Maria Library, and library trustees walked through the building, pointing out which offices belonged to which librarians, where the new cafe would be, and where the Friends would have a small shop.

The space for the expanded genealogy section and the literacy center sparked interest among those on the tour.

The Central Coast Literacy Council will have a small office in the new library that will offer services for both native English speakers and those who are learning English as a second language.

For interim City Librarian Jack Buchanan, the second floor is the highlight.

“It's such a beautiful room,” he said, noting the high, curved ceilings and abundant natural light.

Watching the construction has added meaning for Buchanan because he was part of the team that wrote the initial state grant application that made the project possible.

He retired in 2002 after 22 years with the city, and has returned on a part-time basis to oversee the rest of the construction.

The city is still working to bridge a roughly $2.5-million shortfall in the project's funding, officials said, through local fundraising and pursuing grant funds.

Originally, the bulk of the cost for the new library was expected to be covered by a $16.4-million state grant, but as construction and material costs have risen, the total cost of the project has ballooned to about $20.5 million.

One recent expenditure came Tuesday, when the City Council approved a roughly $500,000 contract with Yamada Enterprises to supply the shelving for the new facility.

Though there is a funding shortfall, everyone involved in the construction is current in terms of being paid, said Rick Haydon, assistant city manager. The deficit, if it is not filled, will probably be seen in materials, he said.

Anyone interested in donating is asked to call the library or contact Councilman Leo Trujillo.

New Main Library Plans

Expanded book collection for all ages in English and Spanish

Computer center featuring 125 computers

Young adult-teen zone

Children's theater

Homework center for more collaboration with local schools

Career center with college information and test books

Study rooms and community meeting rooms

Expanded genealogy section

Literacy center

Space for art exhibits

Cafe and shop for the Friends of the Library

Outdoor patio area

Malia Spencer can be reached at 739-2219 or mspencer@santamariatimes.com

January 19, 2007