Week of August 17-22

WERE BROKE, BUT RENOVATING…WHERE’S THE MONEY
The number #1 question about this project is: How come if the library is reducing hours, staff and collections is there money for renovation? The answer is a two-parter. First, the Central Library was built in 1962 so it is 47 years old. The renovation is limited to upgrading the “parts” that do not meet current code – lighting, wiring, plumbing, cabling, ADA accessibility and shelving. The legal requirement to make Central Library compliant to current standards is not going to go away…it will only get worse. More porta potties? Secondly, the funds being used on the renovation project are either “targeted” funds which can only be used for a specific purpose, like ADA accessibility or 1-time money that cannot support multi-year costs – like staff, collections, utilities, etc.

WHO ARE ALL THOSE STRANGERS…..
Yesterday, just before the Prince and Princess Program there were dozens of non royalty in Central. More than 50 individuals representing 43 different construction companies attended a required “pre bid walk through” of Central. It was an opportunity for the architect, the project management team and City staff to introduce possible bidders to the conditions of our building and answer general questions about the bid. The bid closes on September 3rd. Until then there may be return visits by these contractors. After that date, all of the responses will be evaluated to determine what company will be doing the renovation.

WILLDAN BUILDING (AKA???????)…….
Until a name is chosen for the Interim space, our “short term” library will be called, the Willdan Building (original owners). Carol/Audrey/Karen Gerth (Admin), Rick Brown (Construction Liaison) Irma Lorah (Circulation), and Tom Edelblute (Automation) carefully maneuvered among dozens of old chairs, tables, files, and other assorted City surplus to find power, emergency exits, doors, etc. The plan, at this time…remember “du jour”…is to use much of the 15,000 first floor and create a circulation desk, media area, quiet zone, shelving, computer “lab”, general seating and staff offices. When the building is cleared and easier to navigate/view, staff from all of the impacted units will have an opportunity to check out our temporary work space. As far as names…still looking for suggestions that will help our patrons understand what services are at Harbor and what is available at Anaheim...and of course, it won’t help that the Carnegie building, across from the Willdan building, still has LIBRARY carved above its entrance.

TIMELINES AND IMPACTS
The shift from Central will impact the entire library operations…Some examples…the Staff Association Halloween Party is canceled and the Library Christmas party is looking for an alternate site…. Who gets the vending machines during construction?.... So…keep the questions coming and kudos to all the staff who recently moved media collections into the Children’s room, just one step of many in planning our interim plan of service.