Book It: New Library Opens in La Mesa

By Miriam Raftery

La Mesa’s new library is a bookworm’s delight. 

A
soaring wall of windows fills the library with sunlight, creating an inviting
place for reading, studying, or browsing.   Banks of computers, including
some at child-sized desks, make the library an inviting place for people of
all ages. 

Live music, face painting and a magic show for kids celebrating the library’s
grand opening in July. In August, Friends of the Library opened a bookstore
at the new library, which is 40% larger than the old one.

Who says nobody’s interested in reading anymore?

“Last
month, 25,000 people visited our new library,” said Councilman David
Allan.  “It’s the fourth busiest library in the entire county.” 

The new library sports a teen section and a children’s area complete
with brightly-colored, animal-shaped pillows.   Story-time, book
clubs, Internet research classes and a virtual library complete with free movie
library are among the offerings now provided in a library that has many attractions
of a community center. Youngsters can also sign up to read aloud to “Sunny”,
a collie dog delighting children through a new “read to your breed” program.

The library is part of a 17,000 square foot building that includes a Post
Office in back.   The old library is being demolished to make room
for a new police station.  Next door, a new, state-of-the-art fire station
recently opened.  

In an era when many cities are suffering effects of budget cutbacks, La Mesa
residents overwhelmingly approved Proposition D, a $25 million bond measure
to fund the new public buildings.

“We are all proud of this fantastic accomplishment,” said Councilmember
Ruth Sterling.  “We had a vision, and the La Mesa people were very
generous.”