For Immediate Release	Contact:	Michael Simonsen
July 20, 2002		619-236-6616 619-884-7335 Cell

First Library of the 21st Century Opens in Mission Valley

SAN DIEGO - Mayor Dick Murphy joined Councilmember Donna Frye today to kick off the grand opening of the Mission Valley Library. The festivities began with a trolley ride at Hazard Center and culminated at the library where the doors were officially opened to the public for the first time.

"This new library is the result of a great community effort in which numerous people and organizations stepped forward to ensure that it would become reality," said Councilmember Donna Frye. "There was a definite need for a library to serve Mission Valley and the surrounding areas and we are so grateful for the generous donations and outstanding volunteer efforts that contributed to this new facility."

The new $7 million library is located in Fenton Marketplace. The 19,760-square-foot facility consists of a large community room, two seminar rooms, a computer lab, reading areas, and a children's library. The site has 85 parking spaces and is located adjacent to the Fenton Parkway trolley station making it easily accessible by public transit.

"This unique library will provide Kinko's-type service, with the longest hours of operation of any City library," said Mayor Murphy. "The state-of-the-art facility will be home to 70,000 books and mixed media applications to provide top-notch resources to residents and their children. Its location next to the trolley stop, means that it will also be accessible to people who may not drive, providing yet another valuable community service."

Wheeler Wimer Blackman & Associates designed the new library and Kvaas Construction built it. The City's Engineering and Capital Projects Department managed the project.

The asymmetry of the design reflects the dignity of a public building and pays homage to the historical past of Mission Valley. The shallow vaulted metal roof is reminiscent of the dairy farms and cow barns that dotted the valley many years ago.

Visual highlights of the library are interior designs by Michelle Linback and public art by Joyce Cutler Shaw. Grand steel columns designed to resemble tree branches support large steel plates cut into the shape of a sycamore tree canopy. The library's mezzanine is edged with a brass and steel protective railing with etchings of tall valley grasses. The mezzanine itself will provide the community with the opportunity to venture outside to read a book, gaze at the panoramic views of the valley or savor the cool ocean breezes. The library's clock tower has a glass top that will glow with a different color every 15 minutes.

One of the more enchanting places will be the east garden opposite the children's library. This garden "oasis" comes complete with a shallow linear reflecting pool meandering its way toward the San Diego River.

The library received accolades even before it opened. The San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently presented "Best Institutional Design" and "Best Divine Details" awards for the library's design.

"Libraries are storehouses of knowledge, history, science, thought and culture, and provide a focus from which we receive guidance on maintaining and improving our civilization. We look forward to enjoying our new branch library and all that it offers our community," said Nathaniel Cohen, president of the Mission Valley Community Council. The Community Council had its first meeting in the library on July 18.

H.G. Fenton Co. helped make this project possible by donating the 2-acre site for the library. Other donors include Fenton Marketplace's property manager Sudberry Properties, IKEA, Westfield Shoppingtown, Patty Schreibman-Radcliff and Ron Radcliff, Family and Friends in Memory of Natasha Brigitta Radcliff, Family and Friends of Russell V. Grant, Vulcan Materials, Time Warner Cable, Archstone-Mission Valley, Continental Homes and Shea Homes.

The Mission Valley Branch Library will be open longer than any other branch. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; and 2 to 10 p.m., Sunday.

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