Supporters of a Los Altos main library expansion project have scheduled an open house 3 p.m. March 9 at the main library. The event will include descriptions of plan details and include landscape plans and a brief tour of the proposed site. The event is open to the public.
In early January, the Library Commission, representing Los Altos and Los Altos Hills users, received approval to explore options for a potential interior remodel with the North County Library Authority (NCLA). This project is in the early concept stages with project scope and proposed designs still to be determined.
A more near-term project, the library courtyard, promises to add more than 4,000 exterior square feet of space. This proposed courtyard features a sizable outdoor patio space for group activities, individual seating and a storage area.
The Los Altos City Council Nov. 28 gave the project a “greenlight” to proceed, and assigned Nick Zornes, the city’s director of development services, to oversee the project.
A set of landscape architect designs are now ready for design review by the city.
Arriving at the proposed design required collaboration across key stakeholders, including the history museum and local community leaders. The history museum helped shape the opportunity to showcase the heritage orchard, with apricot trees to be incorporated into the design elements and views of the surrounding orchard.
Elisabeth Ward, executive director of the history museum, will collaborate with the Los Altos community librarian to explore new programs designed to highlight the history of the orchard in children’s programs and projects. The Friends of the Library and the Library Commission have also expressed support.
Special library programming such as author presentations, STEM programs and children’s activities are currently held in the library’s Orchard Room. Kids’ programs and event attendees are limited due to legal capacity constraints.
When complete, the courtyard will add needed capacity for both formal programming and everyday patron visits, supporters said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the library to meet the needs of the growing community,” said Rose Baiza, Los Altos community librarian. “The library looks forward to providing the community with a flexible space while collaborating with community groups and organizations to provide programs for all ages.”
The heritage orchard is a landmark in Los Altos and is part of the city’s history. The new courtyard plans complement the orchard with strategically placed signage that highlights the orchard history, drawing people in as they stroll down the new path from San Antonio Road to the history museum.
The courtyard will feature the orchard as a visual focal point.
According to Ward, “The best way to ensure the value and respect of the Los Altos civic orchard is for the public to have opportunities to engage, connect and learn about it. The library patio could be a great space for sharing the history and heritage of the area’s fruit-growing industry.”
The $2 million cost of the new courtyard is being funded by the Los Altos Library Endowment, which includes a $500,000 donation from the Chou family. No public money will be required, supporters said.
The Los Altos main library is one of the last in the area to benefit from any significant facility upgrades or modernization improvements. The last upgrade was in 1990.
At the same time, use of the library continues to swell – last year alone, supporters said 289,254 patrons visited the Los Altos library, putting 1,368,546 items into circulation.
