May 18, 2006

The wait is over

Hundreds attend Almaden Branch Library and
Community Center grand opening ceremony

By Jeff Frazee
Times Staff

Castillero’s jazz band warmed up as the anticipation and temperature rose. After four years of planning, fund-raising, and building, only a red velvet ribbon stood between anxious crowds and the open doors of the new
Almaden Branch Library and Community Center.

Councilman Forrest Williams, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce President Pat Dando, Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez, Councilwoman Nancy Pyle, San Jose Library Director Jane Light, and Councilman Dave Cortese participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new $26 million facility, which is coming in under budget.

Students play video games, read, study, and flirt in the Teen Center of the new Almaden Branch Library on May 15, the first day it was open after school.

Many neighborhood residents have watched the structure grow over the past two years, when the old library was torn down.

“We’ve all been waiting for it to open,” said Julie Cardona. Cardona’s 7-year-old daughter, Grace, attends Simonds Elementary located directly behind the new community center. After the doors opened Cardona’s husband, Kley could be found teaching Grace to play chess in the game room.

After Councilwoman Nancy Pyle cut the ribbon, the crowd swarmed through the double doors into spacious lobby already filled with the voices of the Pioneer High School symphonic choir. Three separate hallways stretch lead to the library and two wings of the community center.

Entering the library people poured over the extensive media collection. Rows of books are divided by tables and chairs, all of which look out through glass walls onto the courtyard punctuated by the redwood trees the architects worked so hard to preserve. Branching off of the main library area are the teen center, tech center, reading area and the Doris Dillon children’s section.

Minutes after the community center sprung into action a pick-up basketball game was already in full swing in the gymnasium. Across the hall Mia, Mari, and Mark Bajan played ping-pong. Living just two blocks from the center, Mark says of his daughters, “Every time we drove by we would tell the girls, ‘It’s almost ready.’ They were really excited!”

As of May 17, 9,842 people have already been through the Almaden Branch Library and Community Center doors, which lends credence to its importance to the enthusiastic community it serves. Over 20 senior classes are currently available including a morning stretch class with over 100 seniors in attendance and the senior nutrition program.

Chrissy Stahler, 5, wows Denise Rocha with her computer skills on their second trip to the Almaden Library and community Center. Rocha says, "You couldn't get near these [computers] on opening day." Photos by Jeff Frazee

In reference to youth programs the Community Center’s Recreation Supervisor Cathy Noonan said, “It did not make sense to move our youth and after school programs three weeks before the end of the school year, so most of these programs will transition to the new site in mid-June.

Currently there are four full-time staff members at the new facility plus some part-time support. Beginning June 12, there will be five full-time staff members, one recreation leader, and several part-time staff members.

Almaden Library and Community Center is located at 6445 Camden Avenue in San Jose. For library hours and information, call (408) 808-8040 or visit SJLibrary.org. For Community Center hours and information, call (408) 268-1133.