Residents’ Ideas Sought for Library

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon has invited residents to suggest designs for the rebuilding of the city’s Van Nuys Boulevard library.

A meeting to discuss the library project will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the library.

The 5,500-square-foot Pacoima library, built about 40 years ago, is expected to double in size--a project that will cost more than $3.5 million. Planners expect the redesigned library to be completed in June 2001.

Alarcon said he seeks input from patrons to ensure the library will meet their needs.

“I’m open for innovative ideas,” Alarcon said. “What we want to do is invite the community to look at the design we have prepared and see if they concur.”

A new entrance is among improvements under consideration.

Now, patrons enter the library through a doorway facing Van Nuys Boulevard. Planners hope to add an entrance at the rear of the library for easy access to a parking lot, Alarcon said.

Other new features proposed include a multipurpose meeting room that would be accessible after hours, computer rooms with Internet access and improved accommodations for patrons with disabilities.

The City Council has approved spending $500,000 in federal grant money to plan the project and similar upgrades to a library branch in Sun Valley.

City officials also want to build a library in Lake View Terrace, Alarcon said.

Money for construction is included in a bond measure that will be put to voters in November. If the measure fails, the city will probably request more federal funds to finish the project, Alarcon said.

The library is at 13605 Van Nuys Blvd. For more information, call (818) 756-9115.