San Diego's Oak Park community has a well-loved, but sadly outdated. Our library will celebrate its 50th birthday next June! The Oak Park Community Council and the Friends of the Oak Park Library have a long history of supporting the Oak Park Branch Library. In fact, the Oak Park Community Council was created in 1974 directly in response to threats by the City to shut down the library.
This is how the library looked in 1969 when it was first built (left photo). It has not changed much today!
Approximately 7,000 people walk through the branch's doors each month. The homework center helps 62 students a week and approximately 1000 people use the computer workstations. Considering there are only 18 seats in the Adult area, 14 total computer workstations, and the homework center measures only 13x18, this branch works very hard for its size. An improved facility would adequately meet the needs of the growing population of Oak Park. In addition, our branch library provides enrichment programs for 8 different schools, including those outside the Oak Park neighborhood: Darnall Elementary, Webster Elementary, Marshall Elementary, Iftin Charter, and Mann Middle.
We are calling on the community for their input on what they feel would best fit needs for the 21st Century. Is it a new library? Upgraded? Expanded?
We've developed a community survey that will be launched in April 2018 to solicit feedback from residents and schools in the area. The survey will be available in hard copy and electronically. At the end of the summer, we will share the results in a community-wide scoping meeting to allow for opportunities for public input.