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Alpine library needs community assistance
By Renata Youkhanna
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — In the last eight years, the
new Alpine library has been a large project for the community.
It will sit in the community center and replace the older,
smaller library Alpine has today.
Christine Connell, president of the Alpine Library
Friends Association (ALFA) says, “the current library is 3,000
square feet, and the new one will be 9,000 square feet.”
The new library will offer more computers, private
study areas, books, etc. Other new additions will be in place
such as new programs to teach people how to use computers,
tutors to help students with homework, and programs for children
in their own separate area.
Connell is also a volunteer at the Alpine Library
Friends Bookstore.
“Our books are donated by the community and we sell
them back to others in the community at unbeatable prices,” she
says, “the income we get from these books goes into two separate
accounts: Our capital account; paying for rent and other such
bills, and our library account which goes into whatever the
library needs.”
The bookstore is not the only form of funding for the
library. Connell and others that have devoted their efforts are
asking Alpine community members to help donate funds as well. To
help with volunteer work or any other type of sizable donations,
community members may contact ALFA via its web site at
www.alpinelibraryfriends.org.
Donating is not the only way that the community can
help. Members should join meetings about the new library and
voice their ideas for special services and programs. One such
topic in discussion, for example, is to have green energy.
To help the library by donating books to the bookstore,
the address is 2554 Alpine Blvd. Hours of operation are
Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.
to 4p.m.
Alpine library is the heart of the community
It’s Wednesday morning in the Alpine Branch library. As
I walk in the door I see about 20 small children and
their mothers clustered on the brightly colored rug in
the children’s area. They are listening to Kathy, a
volunteer, who reads and sings the songs from a very
large colorfully illustrated book about “A Little Green
Frog.” Some wander around also.
Directly behind the low bookcase, which borders this
area, six adults are using the computers. The noise from
the children’s activities probably doesn’t help their
concentration. Several people are sitting at the table
behind the computers reading periodicals and newspapers
from the racks, which hang on the rear wall of the
library.
The checkout desk on the left is busy as the staff
check-in returned books and Connie McKeever and
Christine Cortese, library staff, work in a cramped
office on paperwork related to the library programs. A
tall book case behind the counter is crammed with
materials ordered by patrons from other libraries which
Alpine doesn’t currently provide.
To the far right the stacks contain many books from the
“Floating Collection” maintained by the County Library
Services. I walk among the bookshelves and notice that
there are few mysteries or novels I haven’t already
read, and realize how limited the selection really is
compared to other libraries in similar communities.
Business is booming at the library — use is up here,
and across the county, by about 15 percent, so readers
like me are so thrilled that it appears that a new
library really is going to be built in the near future.
The site adjacent to the Alpine Community Center on
Alpine Boulevard has already been purchased. Community
groups approved the tentative design several years ago
when Proposition 14 was on the ballot.
The new library at 9,000 square feet will be three
times the size of the current building and will be
specifically tailored to Alpine’s growing needs.
Pictures and plans of the design are on view at the ALFA
Bookstore.
What improvements can Alpiners expect? These small
children will have their own much larger designated area
where reading aloud, crafts, and musical programs can be
expanded and will not disturb other patrons. An area for
teen use could also meet the needs of a group often
underserved, including perhaps tutoring, test
preparation, or homework assistance. A much larger
selection of books, videos, DVDs will be available for
all readers, and of course WiFi will be available for
patrons to use their own laptops.
A computer area will also be provided that is three
times the current size so waiting will be a thing of the
past, and lessons could be offered for the less tech
savvy users.
An outdoor deck overlooking the Community Center Park
will provide a lovely area for tranquil reading with
perhaps a coffee cart to raise funds for additional
activities. At the entrance Alpine Library Friends
Association will staff a community bookstore to continue
to provide funds for the many programs, which will be
possible in this much larger new library. Ethnic
programs, art displays, musical programs, book signing
and author presentations are just some of the wonderful
presentations Alpine will be able to enjoy.
Jose Aponte, Director of Library Services for San Diego
County, has told the community that we must continue our
efforts to raise funds and support for the new library
since following the construction of the Ramona library,
Alpine is next. Typically local communities raise $50
per square foot for a new library to provide fittings,
fixtures, and equipment.
Alpine Library Friends Association, one of the oldest
groups of its kind in San Diego has worked for years to
raise funds to raise awareness of library needs, support
current library programs and create a Capital Fund for
new library use. ALFA will also be holding community
meetings soon to seek donations from individuals,
organizations and companies to bring this project to
fruition. To join our volunteers or for more details
visit the web site at
www.alpinelibraryfriends.org or call the
bookstore at 722-1277. |
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the Editor
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