New Library is Nearly Ready
By Kimberly K. Fu/Staff Writer
TheReporter.Com
The new Fairfield Cordelia Library on Business Center Drive. (Brad Zweerink/The Reporter)
A much-anticipated treasure is emerging in Cordelia, with its final debut slated for early December.
Officials say they can barely contain their excitement as the multimillion-dollar project continues to take shape, fulfilling all their hopes for residents in Cordelia and beyond.
"It really feels like a gift," emphasized Terry Jacobsen, supervising librarian for the Fairfield Civic Library, of the up-and-coming Fairfield Cordelia Library on Business Center Drive.
Ground was broken on the two-story building, which will house city offices on the second floor, in late Sept. 2005. The near-17,000 square foot facility will serve an estimated 15,000 area residents and accommodate estimated growth through 2020.
The library was funded in part by state grant money and the city of Fairfield, leaving a $250,000 need for an Opening Day Collection. That collection was explained as a 47,000 book, CD, DVD and other media collection to welcome excited readers on Dec. 14, billed as the institution's official Opening Day. An additional $250,000 from the Solano County Library Foundation has been earmarked for more materials, officials said.
Located behind the Solano County Office of Education, the building is a jewel both inside and out. Architectural features include tall glass windows that reach for the sky and welcoming arches throughout. An elegant staircase connects the ground-floor library to the well-turned city offices upstairs and views of a retaining pond encircled by a flower-flanked walking path are visible both upstairs and down.
A visit this week showed that the project is progressing nicely. Geometric-print carpeting has been laid and two-toned wood bookshelves with a modern feel are steadily being constructed. Books, all fresh and new and untouched, are carefully being placed on shelves.
Soon to come will be magazines, newspapers, DVDs, videos, and CDs.
The makings of each designated section - adult, teen, child - are coming together, each with their own shelving for fiction and nonfiction, magazines and movies.
There's even a section for Spanish speakers, complete with all genre of reading and audiovisual materials for all ages. And don't forget the large-print material area for anyone with special visual needs.
Computers are stacked in the computer training center, where community classes will be held and students from the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, a partner with the library along with the city, can continue their studies.
More computers await placement throughout the library, with software such as Internet access to match specified needs.
Need a quiet place to study with pals or classmates? Try a trio of study rooms, one of which will be designated for literacy and new readers groups.
The library truly holds something for everyone, Jacobsen said, and is aimed at everyone from individuals to families, avid readers and those new to the enjoyable pastime.
"It's really, really a lovely building. They thought of everything," she said. "I think they spent five years dreaming this."
Contributions to the "Book by book: Lets Build our Library" are still being accepted.
To donate, or volunteer at the library, call 421-8075 or go to www.solanolibraryfoundation.org.
Kimberly K. Fu can be reached at cops@thereporter.com.
