Rancho Bernardo Library staff and patrons held a celebration Saturday for the branch’s 30th anniversary at its current location.
The 22,750-square-foot building opened at 17110 Bernardo Center Drive on June 15, 1996 — the third location for the 53-year-old branch.
Supervising librarian Robyn Gage-Norquiste, RB children’s librarian Helene Idels, RB branch manager Zeina Guoin, SDPL director Misty Jones, library assistant Quynh Giang and librarians Minoo Hadidi and Reba Paul. (Criselda Yee)
The RB Library was established as the 24th branch of the San Diego Public Library system when it opened on March 26, 1973. Its first home was a temporary building in the Westwood neighborhood that once served as an Avco sales office.
Prior to that, a bookmobile stopped weekly at the RB Swim & Tennis Club.
Teen volunteers Sofie Zhao, Amy Wu and Claire Wong, all members of the “Smile and Paint” youth club, provided free face painting for children. (Criselda Yee)
Following the formation of the Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library in December 1973, efforts were made to open an 8,000-square-foot facility on Bernardo Center Drive near the Webb Park entrance. That goal was accomplished when it opened on June 3, 1977.
According to historical records, the first permanent building was expected to be sufficient for up to 25,000 residents. But it quickly experienced growing pains as the collection expanded to 60,000 items and the branch became the busiest of the then-32 city branches. Its circulation volume was two-thirds of the downtown Central library, but RB’s collection was crammed into 6 percent of the shelf space, with more than 1,000 books being checked out daily by some of the more than 60,000 patrons.
San Diego Public Library Director Misty Jones spoke about the RB Library’s years before moving into the current building in 1996. She also acknowledged the many volunteers, Friends of the RB Library members and dedicated staff that collectively make the library a great resource for those in the community. (Criselda Yee)
As the number of patrons rose, that led to fundraising efforts to construct the current — and nearly three times larger – building that was celebrated on Saturday. The branch has meeting and study rooms, an outdoor space, dedicated children’s area, special collections, 38 computers for public use, language collections, artwork throughout the library, an art gallery along its upstairs hallway and a digital memory lab.
The lab is a do-it yourself space for digitizing various audio/visual media formats. Users also have the equipment to scan documents, slides and negatives under the guidance of library staff and volunteers, according to the library’s website.
Diane Harris, secretary of the Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library board. (Criselda Yee)
The library is also home to the Jerry Peterson Friends of the Library Bookshop, one of several ways the Friends raise money to support the library. The organization sponsors the free concert series, Summer Reading Program prize incentives and programming, and provides for other library needs and materials that the city’s library system does not have the money to fund.
According to The Bookmark, a June 1995 newspaper-style publication promoting the library endeavor, architect Bob Coffee said he drew inspiration for the current library from early California’s first settlers and ranchers, Bernardo Winery and Rancho Bernardo Inn. He wanted the building to reflect the 1990s but also the area’s natural landscape and history. For example, the ceiling’s wood beams are clustered and connected with metal brackets to create a look reminiscent of wagon wheels.
Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library volunteers Diane Cubeta, Carol Haddock and Linda Nugent. (Criselda Yee)
The exterior adobe colors complemented RB’s natural countryside, especially wheat and natural grasses growing along hillsides in the fall. Its olive tree gate at the entrance was designed by artist Christopher Lee, who wanted to reflect the community’s past, present and future.
Shortly after the opening artist Peter Brian Daly proposed his mixed media Tree of Knowledge design for the 15-foot by 8-foot patio wall near the children’s area.
See more photos at PomeradoNews.com.
Likitha Veeravalli smiled as she tried on the balloon butterfly wings created by Sparkles the Clown, aka Lauren Crosthwaite. (Criselda Yee)
San Diego UC Master Gardeners Nancy Bellinghiere-Hall and Leta Bender provided opportunities for attendees to make and take compostable seed pots. They also answered gardening questions. (Criselda Yee)
RB librarian Minoo Hadidi and volunteer Maggie Bomis with a specially designed insulated tote bag given to attendees during the 30th anniversary celebration. (Criselda Yee)
RB Library patron Chris Liu and his son Jasper standing next to the library’s 30th anniversary exhibit. (Criselda Yee)
Patrons and staff gathered on Saturday to celebrate the Rancho Bernardo Library’s 30th anniversary in its current location. (Criselda Yee)
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Likitha Veeravalli smiled as she tried on the balloon butterfly wings created by Sparkles the Clown, aka Lauren Crosthwaite. (Criselda Yee)