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San Jose's Southernmost Library Reopens
Community Celebration Marks Grand Opening of New Santa Teresa Branch
SAN JOSE - South valley residents joined city and library officials today to celebrate the grand opening of the new, expanded Santa Teresa Branch Library. At 22,000 sq. ft., the ultra modern light-filled structure is nearly twice the size of the original 13,860 sq. ft. library that had occupied the site since 1984. Following a brief dedication ceremony, visitors were free to explore the new spaces, check out library materials and enjoy light refreshments.
"The new Santa Teresa library will be a great resource for our South San Jose community," said Mayor Chuck Reed. "I'd like to thank our residents for supporting the expansion of libraries throughout our city."
The new library - designed by STUDIOS Architecture (San Francisco, CA) and constructed by BRCO Constructors, Inc (Sacramento, CA) - features a glass tower at entry, corrugated metal ceiling, glass mulch landscape feature, and maximization of natural light with large glass areas and skylights. The new Santa Teresa Branch also includes the common elements of all new library construction in San Jose:
- an Internet cafe
- community living room with a fireplace
- technology center
- group and quiet study areas, and
- a community room
along with significantly more space inside for seating, collections and computers. The project was completed well under budget.
"It is with great excitement that I welcome the return of the long-awaited Santa Teresa Library, which is a beautiful and modern addition to the City of San Jose," said Councilmember Ash Kalra. "During these economic times, it is especially important to have resources such as libraries to provide families with low cost options for their entertainment and education. I look forward to what this library will bring to our community!"
Public art for the project created by Beatrice Coron (New York, NY) includes three key elements built around the theme "Cultivate Your Mind in the Orchard of Knowledge:"
- "Orchard Walk" - thematic sidewalk insets made of stainless steel and flamed granite embedded in concrete that cross references fruits and major literary works
- "Tree of Knowledge" - three glass panes giving the impression of age rings in the cross-section of a tree trunk that illustrate eras in the region’s history, and
- "Bibliotree" - a sculptural element in the form of a tall flourishing tree made of water jet cut stainless steel; the trunk features letters or world alphabets while the tree branches support books and other media suggesting the very basic relationship between the two.
Once the busiest branch in the system, Santa Teresa Library is expected to resume that role; offering a variety of programs for all ages. Library staff are engaged in programming collaboration with the nearby Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, starting with joint sponsorship of a visit by the Digital Bookmobile from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 19.
Santa Teresa Branch Library is the fifteenth branch library bond project to be completed. The Branch Library Bond Measure, approved in November 2000, provides $212 million over ten years dedicated to the construction of six new and fourteen expanded branch libraries in San Jose. All but one of the planned projects are now at some stage of design or construction or have been completed. Visit www.newsanjoselibaries.com for updates on San Jose branch library development.
Santa Teresa Branch Library, located at 290 International Circle, is open Monday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; and Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. For information, call (408) 808-3068.
Submitted by:
Lorraine Oback
Marketing Communications
San Jose Public Library
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Posted on February 8, 2010 3:00 PM | Permalink