Five Years New

Believe it or not the “new” Civic Center Library has been open for five years! The Library continues to be an amazing building. Finishes in the building have worn very well and many people tell us it still feels new to them. The Library is a showpiece of the community with many people bringing their out of town visitors to see their wonderful library.


We have added a few pieces of furniture and equipment—much of which has been provided through the generosity of the Friends. Funds have bee provided for us to add the Peek A Book station in the Youth Room and the Brightboard at the entrance announcing our library events. The Friends also purchased the scooter that helps less mobile folks navigate the library. We have purchased additional chairs for our programs in the Craft Room with a Friends donation. The Library has added some display shelving, a computer reservation system and a print management system. We have also added two early literacy workstations in the Youth Room.


Outside the Library, the landscaping has grown up and is now much more lush and mature. Check out the now fully formed children’s topiary on the north end of the building!! The trees in the front are forming a nice canopy over the entrance and the infamous mosaic is holding up very well to the elements and foot traffic. In the spring, with the landscaping in bloom, the site is truly beautiful.


The building functions very well as a library. It is easily navigated by patrons and there is still plenty of room for expansion of the library collection. Even when the parking lot is full, the building does not seem crowded. I have heard many people say it is just like a second living room for them. Spaces have been easily adapted to changing ideas in the delivery of library services such as increased self help. The Friends Bookstore and the Cafe are popular .


I recently had someone ask me what I would do differently now that we have lived in the building for five years. There is very little I would change. Perhaps a different configuration for the Community Meeting Room—more square than rectangular---also less kitchen space in that area and more storage for chairs and tables. Outside, I would add more parking. In the design process, we thought we had more than enough as it is more than required by code. However, come by the library on a day of children’s or special programming and it is difficult to find a space. I guess we are victims of our own success!! We would like to build an overflow parking lot at the rear of the building but, so far, have not come up with the over $100,000 needed to build it. Otherwise, the building and its spaces are great. And the community seems to like it—use of the library has increased 25% since we opened in 2004.

One of the blessings of the “new” library is the additional community space. The Community Room and the Craft Room have provided space for us to present a wide variety of public programs such as the Authors and Arts series and Livermore Reads Together. We have been able to present exciting programs tied to our Livermore Reads Together books, musical and theatrical presentations, author talks, how to programs, travel programs and fantastic children’s program such as puppets, magicians, animals and many, many others. The Civic Center Library has become to place to look to for free, educational and worthwhile events. Local community groups also take advantage of the public space and the meeting rooms are heavily booked throughout the year.

Art has an important place in the Civic Center Library and the public art pieces incorporated into the building are holding up well and continue to enhance the beauty of the building. One of my favorite places in the Library is the art gallery. When we opened the building, I was concerned that we would not be able to keep the art gallery filled with art shows. However, the gallery is booked a year ahead and there is sufficient demand for the space that we will have no trouble keeping it filled even beyond the year booking that we do. The art exhibits are varied and exciting and the gallery affords the public an opportunity to appreciate the talents of our local artists.

All of the new technology put into the building five years ago continues to be viable and helps us deliver efficient and effective library service. The patron self check machines are ideal for the grab and go patron and our materials handling book return equipment has enhanced our Borrower’s Services and freed up our staff to provide better customer service. Our computer system continues to be up to date with new and exciting elements added frequently. Recently, the library added e-commerce to the system so patrons may now pay their fines and fees online. We have added new items for borrowing including Wii games and Playaway audio books. E-books are available through the online catalog and, of course, anyone can check on their account at any time by logging into the Library web site at http://www.livermore.lib.ca.us/. The building uses energy efficiently through a heating and air conditioning system shared by the rest of the Civic Center campus. The library’s security systems keep the building and its contents safe and secure. We have a very low loss rate, less than 1%, so they are working. Our maintenance folks keep on top of everything. We have very little damage or graffiti but when we do, they are quick to provide repair or cleanup. Our janitorial service keeps the building very clean and we often get comments on the cleanliness of our facility.

After five years, we continue to be thankful to the community for authorizing the bond measure that got us this beautiful building. We continue to try to provide the best service possible for your library.