FAQs
South San Francisco New Main Library Project
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where will the New Main Library be located?
Why is this site desirable?
When the current Main Library on West Orange Avenue was built, they left room for a second floor in the future. Is that still a possibility?
What will it cost?
How will a New Main Library be funded?
What will happen to the current Library building?
Why now?
What about Grand Avenue Branch Library?
Will the new Library be bigger than the current Library?
What are some new/improved services the Library will offer in a new, larger Library?
What would a new Library look like?
How big will the new Library be?
Will the new Library be a "Green" building?
Where will the New Main Library be located?
The City has recently purchased the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (PUC) property along the El Camino corridor from Chestnut Avenue to 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. The Oak Avenue extension, connecting El Camino Real with Mission Road, would expand access options to this site.
When the current Main Library on West Orange Avenue was built, they left room for a second floor in the future. Is that still a possibility?
At the time it was built, room was left for a mezzanine level in a small portion of the facility. However, not only would this mezzanine level not add a significant amount of floor space for public services, but there are load/earthquake safety questions regarding the addition of a second level because the building was constructed under an older building code and significant work would have to be done on the building in order to add another level. Increased library use, modern building codes, the building's age, construction costs and space and parking requirements mean that it is more cost efficient to replace the existing 40+ year old building.
The simple answer is that it is too early to come up with a firm amount. This would depend upon the size of a new library, projected construction costs, service and program features, etc. As we move along in the process we will provide cost estimates; however, we anticipate a range of between $32 million and $42 million for our New Main Library.
How will a New Main Library be funded?
The City will look for State or grant funding, but a significant portion of the costs for a new library will come from local funding. A Citizens Library Committee is working with the City to identify possible funding sources, including government funding, grant funding and the feasibility of a local bond or parcel tax.
What will happen to the current Library building?
Several City Departments who are currently operating in cramped spaces are interested in moving in this building. The West Orange location is an accessible spot for City services and we anticipate continuing to maintain the building as a City facility.
The South San Francisco Public Library has reached the point where it can no longer effectively meet the community's needs in the Main Library on West Orange Avenue. The Main Library opened on November 28, 1966 with a capacity for 80,000 volumes and 2,000 phonograph records. The current collection is comprised of approximately 125,000 books and other print materials, and 16,000 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. Current circulation at the Main Library is over 500,00 items.
Library services and programs are at capacity. The Internet computers are heavily used, and during busy times of the day and school holidays, patrons wait in line for the next available computer. Unfortunately, due to space and electrical constraints in the Main Library, we are unable to expand online services to meet demand. Children's story times are so popular that the weekly preschool story times were moved from the picture story room to the auditorium, and then split into several weekly sessions to meet demand. Project Read tutoring, computer lab, workshop and program space is limited and services are sometimes moved offsite to meet programming needs. In the thriving after school hours, available seating is scarce and students working on group projects have little space to spread out and prepare materials.
What about Grand Avenue Branch Library?
This beautiful Carnegie building, located next to City Hall, was seismically upgraded in 1997 and ADA accessibility was improved in 2006. We will continue providing public services at this historic building, including a wide variety of children's services, online access, family programming and a current collection of materials in English and Spanish.
Will the new Library be bigger than the current Library?
The public space of the current Library is 12,000 square feet. The building was built in 1966 for a community of 39,418 compared to our current population of 62,614. We hope to double the public space in the new facility, create flexible spaces to meet changing demands, provide greater handicapped accessibility, and provide adequate parking for years to come. A New Main Library will be better able to address the needs of our vibrant and diverse community.
What are some new/improved services the Library will offer in a new, larger Library?
Expanded program 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 and organizations and local small businesses- Expanded tutoring and classroom space for literacy services-Additional shelving and display space for the collections - Comfortable, roomy seating areas.
What would a new Library look like?
We are at the early stages of planning for a new Library. Community interviews, surveys and focus groups will be conducted to identify the community's current and future need this information will be used during the planning and design process.
How big will the new Library be?
The results of the planning stage will be used to determine the breadth of programs and services in the new facility, and how much space is needed to fulfill these community needs.
Will the new Library be a "Green" building?
We will take the opportunity to develop our new facility using environmentally friendly design and construction elements as many new libraries have done.
Revised January 2008