San Jose, California - Southside residents joined City and Library officials today to celebrate the grand opening of the new and expanded Seven Trees Branch Library. At 15,567 sq. ft., the ultra modern, light-filled library encompasses the entire second floor of the community center/library facility. Following a brief dedication ceremony, visitors were free to explore the library, check out library materials, and enjoy light refreshments and free entertainment.
“Thanks to our residents’ support, San José has been able to build new branch libraries throughout the city,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “The new Seven Trees Branch Library, together with the adjacent community center, is an important resource for residents of all ages.”
The new library – designed by Rob Wellington Quigley Architects (Palo Alto, CA) and constructed by Gonsalves and Stronck Construction Inc. (San Carlos, CA) – features an open layout with large glass areas to maximize natural light. This joint use facility received LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The new Seven Trees Branch also includes the common elements of all new library construction in San José:
· Community living room with a fireplace
· Tech Center
· Group and quiet study areas
· Teen Room
The library also features a Family Learning Center which offers innovative programs and services for families and individuals looking to improve their literacy and life skills.
“This community really, really cares about their library, and they are excited to use it. People are coming in, sitting, reading books, using computers, and just enjoying the space,” said Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen. “This is a new gathering place for our community to grow stronger together. We appreciate all the hard work that went into making it a reality,” said Nguyen.
Public art for the project, created by San José-based Samuel Rodriguez and Matt Rodriguez, was designed around the idea of community and a customized urban bicycle referred to as a lowrider bike. The art piece, Potential, uses a series of frosted panels displaying bicycle lowrider parts intermingled with imagery and words to depict the diversity of the Seven Trees community.
“We are delighted to again be providing library services in the Seven Trees neighborhood,” said Interim Library Director Anne Cain.
Seven Trees Branch Library is the sixteenth bond-funded branch library project to be completed. The Branch Library Bond Measure, approved in November 2000, provided $212 million dedicated to the construction of six new and fourteen expanded branch libraries in San José. All but one of the planned projects has been completed with three additional openings occurring between now and June 8, 2013. Visit sjpl.org/NewLibraries for updates on San José branch library developments.
Seven Trees Branch Library, located at 3590 Cas Drive, is open Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and closed Sunday – Tuesday. For more information, call (408) 808-3056 or visit SJPL.org/SevenTrees.
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