Don't bury the Library under a parking garage
Position Statement - 2017
Don't Bury the Library is opposed to the proposal by the City of Santa Cruz to relocate the Downtown Branch Library on the ground floor of a new 5-6 story parking garage to be built in the parking lot at Cathcart and Cedar Streets (Click HERE to read the Downtown Library and Parking Garage Feasibility Study). Instead, we support the only option for the downtown library that is within the $23 million budget: Keep the Downtown Library Branch in its current location -- remodeled, renovated, refurbished, rehabilitated, and renewed.
We are opposed to the parking garage proposal for the following reasons:
The City Hall Campus is the civic center of Santa Cruz, which now includes the Downtown Branch Library and its administration offices (Click on the left image below to enlarge).
We are opposed to the parking garage proposal for the following reasons:
The City Hall Campus is the civic center of Santa Cruz, which now includes the Downtown Branch Library and its administration offices (Click on the left image below to enlarge).
Moving the Downtown Branch Library from the City Hall campus into a parking garage in a retail area at Cathcart and Cedar Streets would change the Downtown Branch Library from its current status as part of the City's vital civic center, to the equivalent of another storefront in a busy retail atmosphere. The special status of the library building edifice would be lost in the overwhelming domination of a parking garage.
A library is more than the collections and programs inside the building. The library building itself is an icon of community service and involvement, which is further emphasized by its location.
The history of the Santa Cruz library system parallels the history of the founding and development of the City of Santa Cruz and the surrounding county. That history is reflected in the selection of location and the design and construction of the first building dedicated to the Santa Cruz Public Library. (Click HERE to read the history of the Santa Cruz Library system.)
The history of the Santa Cruz library system parallels the history of the founding and development of the City of Santa Cruz and the surrounding county. That history is reflected in the selection of location and the design and construction of the first building dedicated to the Santa Cruz Public Library. (Click HERE to read the history of the Santa Cruz Library system.)
Unfortunately, City officials decided that the library building was too small for City needs, after only 50 years of use. Rather than remodel or build an addition, the building was torn down in 1966, and the present building was constructed on the site and dedicated in 1968.
Over the years, the Santa Cruz Library system has grown to encompass the entire County of Santa Cruz, with branch libraries established in the various communities, initially in existing buildings, and eventually in dedicated new buildings. (Click on each image to enlarge and see its location.)
What do the other branch library buildings tell us about the communities they represent?
Once again the existing library building is considered inadequate for present needs, suffering from years of deferred maintenance and lack of infrastructure upgrades. The city has proposed a new Downtown Branch Library building in the ground floor of a five story parking garage, in response to emerging trends, fiscal expediency, "A convergence of circumstances and opportunities" (Downtown Library and Parking Garage Feasibility Study), and the passage of a $67 million library bond measure.
Demolition of the existing Downtown Branch Library building would complete the process of separating the library building from its history and cultural continuity.
"We believe that the prospect of demolishing the structurally-sound Library building and sending it to the landfill will further violate the community’s value of careful stewardship of the earth’s resources." Rick Longinotti (CFST) 4/16/21
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Continual response to perceived "emerging trends" results in a culture torn loose from the moorings of its past and set adrift without anchor. As a wave passes through the ocean while the water stays in place, a culture riding the crest of each emerging wave is unaware of the rich tapestry of life available just beneath the surface.
The Downtown Branch Library is a vital part of our civic center that anchors our community in its sea of history and culture. We urge the Downtown Library Advisory Committee and the City of Santa Cruz to carefully consider the consequences of weighing anchor and sailing off into the uncharted waters of the future.
The Downtown Branch Library is a vital part of our civic center that anchors our community in its sea of history and culture. We urge the Downtown Library Advisory Committee and the City of Santa Cruz to carefully consider the consequences of weighing anchor and sailing off into the uncharted waters of the future.