Your New Main Library - Way Overdue!

South San Francisco's Public Library has served our community for over 40 years, and as South San Francisco has grown, so have Library programs, services, collections and usage. The rapidly aging electrical, technological, space and programming capabilities of the current building no longer meet the needs of our community, and we are very excited to begin community planning for a New Main Library in South San Francisco.

The Main Library opened on November 28, 1966 with a capacity for 80,000 volumes and 2,000 phonograph records. The current collection includes 125,300 books and 15,300 audiovisual materials (CDs, videos, DVDs, Books on CD, Books on Tape). While the seating capacity of the library has not changed much since opening day, the population of South San Francisco has grown significantly. South San Francisco's population was 39,418 in 1960; 46,000 in 1970; and 62,614 today. Anticipated annual circulation on opening day in 1966 was 250,000 items per year. Today, 41 years after opening day, Library usage has more than doubled, with close to 516,358 items checked out in the past year.

The City has recently purchased San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (PUC) property along the El Camino corridor from Chestnut to the Kaiser Hospital. A portion of this property is being considered as the site of a New Main Library. This property is thought to be a good site for the New Main Library due to the size of the site, its central location, visibility, accessibility, and proximity to public transportation and shopping.

Over the past few years, we have listened to community feedback and are developing a list of new/improved services the Library will offer in a new, larger, 21st-century facility. Our growing vision includes: Expanded programs and performance space for Youth Services; more public access computers; improved wireless "hot" zones; express check out; improved handicapped access; meeting and study rooms for students, local groups, organizations, local small businesses; expanded tutoring and classroom space for literacy services; additional shelving and display space for the collections; comfortable, roomy seating areas; green building materials.

What is your vision and what are your priorities? Do you want group study rooms for students, Internet surfing classes for seniors, spacious and inviting spaces for young children, comfortable seating areas to get lost in a good book? We encourage you to sign up to be included in this planning process. Please let us know that you are interested by emailing us at ssfpladm@plsinfo.org, calling us at 829-3876, or completing an "interest card" in the library. Let's work together to discover a new vision for South San Francisco @ your library. South San Francisco deserves a New Main Library!