Cole Library Reopens February 27, 2016

One of the coolest buildings in the City of Carlsbad family of spaces, the Georgina Cole Library, will reopen to the public (after a complete facelift) on Saturday, February 27, 2016 with what the City is calling a “community appreciation event.”

The free celebration will include a reopening ceremony, tours, live music, children’s activities and more. . . Improvements to the 49-year-old Cole Library have transformed the oldest library in the city into a modern space able to meet the community’s changing needs in an increasingly digital age. . . “We appreciate the patience of our library patrons during the closure,” said City of Carlsbad Library & Cultural Arts Director Heather Pizzuto. “Community members are invited to come and explore the new spaces and amenities available at the Cole Library.”

We’re most excited with the new Friends of The Library Book Store (best book deals in town) and the new collaborative study spaces. The party beings at 10 AM on February 27, 2016. For the official word from the City of Carlsbad, please follow the jump.

The modernization and renovation of the City of Carlsbad’s Georgina Cole Library on Carlsbad Village Drive will be celebrated with a community appreciation event Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free celebration will include a reopening ceremony, tours, live music, children’s activities and more.

Improvements to the 49-year-old Cole Library have transformed the oldest library in the city into a modern space able to meet the community’s changing needs in an increasingly digital age.

“We appreciate the patience of our library patrons during the closure,” said City of Carlsbad Library & Cultural Arts Director Heather Pizzuto. “Community members are invited to come and explore the new spaces and amenities available at the Cole Library.”

Improvements include enhanced technology and Wi-Fi connectivity and power access, improved accessibility, additional comfortable gathering spaces, collaborative study and meetings spaces, a new Friends of the Library bookstore, new carpet and paint, a new elevator and a fire sprinkler system.

The new study and meeting spaces will be equipped with technology and will be available by reservation or drop-in. A one-stop central service desk is also being added to better assist library patrons, and a real-time material check-in system will improve efficiency.

The reopening of the Cole Library marks the beginning of the second phase of the city’s library modernization project that also includes improvements to the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. Upgrades to what is known as the “Dove Library” will begin in late February and are expected to be complete by mid-2016, in advance of the library’s popular Summer Reading Program.

“Maintaining regular library services and programs during construction has been a top priority, which is why we are waiting for Cole Library to be reopen before we begin work at Dove,” said Heather Pizzuto. “We are pleased to be able to provide modified services at the Dove Library during the majority of the scheduled construction period.”

The Dove Library will close completely for about a week at the end of February and then reopen with a modified schedule and services between February and April and then close for final construction work until its mid-2016 reopening.

During construction, library service for all ages, including hold pickups, a small collection of popular materials such as books and magazines, and after-school homework assistance will be available from the children’s area at Dove Library. Many programs typically held at Dove Library will be moved to other community locations during construction. A book drop and donation bin will continue to be available in the Dove Library parking lot. More information about specific programs and current calendars can be found at www.carlsbadlibrary.org.

The 17-year old Dove Library has fewer maintenance needs than Cole Library. Improvements at Dove Library will focus on enhancing community gathering and seek to create a “living room” feel by adding seating areas for patrons, redesigning the courtyard and adding a new patio and a café with expanded food and drink options. Improved outdoor spaces will allow for new opportunities for outdoor library programs and events.

Individual and collaborative use will be improved with enhanced technology and Wi-Fi connectivity and power access, additional study rooms and a new tech lab to serve as a versatile learning center. Similar to the Cole Library, the Dove Library will also add dedicated teen areas where young adults can gather to study or collaborate. The renovation will also include a new Friends of the Library bookstore.

The Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, located in the Carlsbad City Library complex, will be remodeled to improve accessibility and enhance visibility of the stage. The auditorium’s video production and other audio-visual equipment will be upgraded to digital technology.

In addition to the Cole Library, the city’s Library Learning Center, located at 3368 Eureka Place across from Holiday Park, will be open during the construction period for the Dove Library, with expanded hours, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Library online services and resources will also remain available during construction.

The Carlsbad City Council approved an $11 million budget for the renovation of two of its three libraries to meet the changing needs of the community in today’s digital age. The renovation plans, shaped by community input, are designed to improve the user experience for the more than 65,000 monthly visitors to city libraries.

Carlsbad libraries circulate 1.3 million books, DVDs and other materials every year, along with providing a wide range of digital resources. About 85 percent of city residents visit the library in person or online every year, and 57 percent use library services on a monthly basis.