Imperial library marks reopening
IMPERIAL — The public library here is far more than just a secluded shelter to read and a month after it reopened, library and city staff showcased the expanded facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the newly completed City Council chambers adjacent to the library.
“We’re happy to have more space to do our job better,” said Christina Carter, library administrator. “We just wanted to let the public know we’re back in business.”
“Everybody’s really excited about the expansion,” added Alexis Brown, executive assistant to the Imperial city manager. “The library will be better able to accommodate Imperial’s growing population and the new council chambers will serve as a dual purpose for the Library’s midday matinee program.”
The expansion added 3,475 square feet of space. The new Children’s Room was a former outdoor patio and a new reading room was formerly frontage shrubbery. The library also upgraded 11 computers that still provide Wi-Fi connectivity. The project cost $1.5 million supported by the successor agency to the redevelopment agency and additional help from the general fund.
A change order in the course of construction added square footage, also hand and guard rails to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. And thanks to an in-house design by the planning and development department the city saved an estimated $40,000 in drafting expense, noted Othon Mora, building inspector for Imperial.
Plans are still afoot for a building front facade, drought-tolerant landscaping and south-side director’s office and storage space. “We could have done more but we need additional funding,” said Armando Aguilar, Imperial’s engineer technician/inspector.
“We now have a beautiful facility and the Children’s Room is awesome,” said Lynn Mavila, library board president. “It’s not just bricks and mortar. We have arts programs for kids, financial literacy for adults and an expanded English/writing/computer literacy skills improvement program. We’re a lot more than just a space for reading.”
Ericka Aponte, vice president of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce expressed appreciation for the wonderful work the library does and noted the restoration outcome “was terrific.”
Addressing a crowd of several dozen in the council chambers, Mayor Doug Cox remarked, “This is a terrific place. It was a long time coming. It took a lot of planning and cost a lot of money, but it was worth every cent. And I’d like to thank the construction company.”
Jim Duggins, president of Duggins Construction, Inc., the contractor, noted as a native of the Valley, it is always nice to see things in Imperial County progress. “You’ve got to be proud to see what the city of Imperial does on a day-in-day-out basis,” he said. “And it’s always the city staff who accomplishes it.”