Santa Monica and Cerritos Public Libraries
For those of you who missed this year’s preconference tour of Santa Monica and Cerritos Public Libraries, it would be worth the effort to try and see these libraries on your own, especially if a remodel or new library are in your future. The facilities are very different, and both have outstanding features we can all learn from.
The bus took us to Santa Monica PL first. From the outside the building seemed nondescript, blending into its downtown location without much pomp and circumstance. The minute we entered, we realized SMPL was far from ordinary. First off, the building is LEED certified, which in my neck of the woods is synonymous with quality. Not only was the majority of the building constructed from sustainable or recycled materials, but 95% of construction waste was recycled. The building’s central plaza is an open air court where visitors can grab a snack from a cafe or just enjoy the interesting urban landscaping in the mild California weather. Inside, single reference stations replace the typical reference desk “fortress” and display units are on wheels, allowing for complete flexibility. This library “activates the edges,” using peripheral space for seating. Instead of building huge auditoriums, meeting rooms are designed for typical turnouts with technology in place to beam the program to additionl overflow spaces.
Overall, a well thought out model of the modern public library. Don’t miss it!
Cerritos describes itself as an “experience library.” And that it is. The children’s area will knock you out and leave you wondering why adults can’t have a room just like it. Check out the $100,000 replica of T-Rex and the enormous rain forest tree that sends out forest sounds from its canopy. The full wall saltwater aquarium and inside palm trees are killer, and the rooftop patio is a wonderful space. Unlike Santa Monica, this library is a glutony of electrical consumption for the sake of glitz and glamour and depite the fun and interesting ideas present, halfway though our tour I felt the desire to begin turning off lights. It’s unlike any library you’ve visited- I guarantee it- and a short distance from Anaheim, so if you have a rental car and an extra few hours, take a short drive and see for yourself.
Thanks to LAMA for a fun filled day.
