FAQs

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On June 28, the San Diego City Council voted to approve construction of the New Central Library. VISIT HERE for more information on that historic vote and return here for more information on the ground breaking ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28.

Below are quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this project. Some questions contain links to a PDF document with more complete details and background. To see this document, you can VISIT HERE.

1.  Why are libraries as important today as ever?

Libraries are the only place providing free, equal and comprehensive access to information and resources giving all citizens the opportunity and resources to succeed. In the digital age, library resources and programs remain as popular and important as ever. Last fiscal year, circulation at the San Diego Public Library system was at an historic high and was 19.5 percent higher than a decade ago (1).  Also, libraries are more than just books, providing a community meeting space where San Diegans gather to hear great music, appreciate art work and discuss critical issues. The Library is San Diego’s largest provider of free cultural programming with more than 7,000 cultural and educational events yearly.

For more details, VISIT HERE.

2.  How does the Central Library support the branch libraries?

The Central Library is the heart of the San Diego Public Library system with each branch relying daily on the resources, collections, expertise and reference support of the Central Library. An investment in the new Central Library is an investment in the health of the entire system.  Patrons at branches turn to highly trained staff and specialized librarians at the Central Library for their most advanced reference questions—more than 643,000 questions last fiscal year (1). 

Additionally, the Central Library houses more than 500,000 unique titles, each of which can be delivered free-of-charge to any branch. The Central Library distributes more than 424,000 books, reference materials, CDs, DVDs and other materials to branches annually. Every item in the collections at branches—including books, DVDs, CDs and reference materials—is centrally selected, catalogued and processed through the Central Library. Central staff works with professional staff at branches to ensure the branch's collection is unique to the needs of the community. The Central Library also is home to some of the region’s most valuable archival resources and important specialized collections that are an asset to the entire region.

For more details, VISIT HERE.

3.  Do we need a new Central Library?

The current Central Library was built 57 years ago to serve a population of only 466,000 people. In Fiscal Year 1955, the attendance for the entire library system was 15,003 (18).  Today, the City's population is 1.25 million people. Additionally, 574,000 people use the Central Library alone and the facility supports 35 branch libraries, more than three times the number than at its opening. The facility is beyond its capacity with 60 percent of the collections in basement storage areas (10), off limits to the public. The building suffers from a decaying infrastructure, outdated plumbing, inefficient electrical systems, as well as obsolete heating and air systems that are costly to maintain. The California State Library reviewed the conditions and reported:

"This asbestos-laden structure is inefficient with limited capability for reconfiguring space for virtually any purpose." (14) 

For more details, VISIT HERE.

4.  What is the vision for the new facility?

The new Central Library will help San Diego achieve many of its most pressing civic objectives. The new facility allows the San Diego Public Library to adequately serve the branches and the community’s needs for literacy, information and knowledge in the 21st century. Additionally, the building will be a new landmark—a civic icon that embodies San Diego's commitment to the future. The new Central Library will:

• Provide improved access to information and resources. The new library will feature a collection of more than 1.2 million volumes, or 60 percent more than the current facility.
• Support student achievement region wide.  The highly visible children and teen areas and homework center will be exciting new resources for San Diego’s young people.
• Provide a venue for community meetings and gatherings.
• Provide top-quality cultural and educational programming.
• Allow equal access to key technologies.
• Support persons with special needs.  

For more details, VISIT HERE.  

5.  What is the history of this project?

The need for a new Central Library was evident as far back as the City’s adopted General Plan in 1971, and the need was confirmed in the 1977 Master Plan for the San Diego Public Library (11).  Citizen committees have studied possible sites for the new main library through 45 independent studies done over a 35-year period. Beginning in 1999, six potential downtown sites were analyzed through public hearings and workshops (12). An extensive series of workshops were held with thousands of citizens. In 2001, the City Council reviewed the analysis on each of the sites along with associated costs, and unanimously re-affirmed that the City-owned, approximately 68,000 square feet site at Park Blvd and J Street was the best location.

6. Why is a charter high school being located at the new Central Library?

There is a recognized need for additional high school capacity downtown with San Diego and Lincoln High Schools beyond capacity.  More than 52 percent of the high school students living downtown—more than 2,800 —must attend high schools outside downtown, many bused to schools far from downtown. Additionally, renovations and expansion at Washington and Sherman Elementary Schools have eliminated the need for additional downtown elementary space in the immediate future. 

In late 2008, Library Director Deborah Barrow began discussions with San Diego Unified about the concept of building a high school at the new Central Library.  The school would serve 400+ high school students and with its access to vast educational resources, this school will serve as a national model in college and career readiness.

Additionally, this exciting proposal builds upon already planned features to serve the 43 schools within two miles of the new Central Library, including an after school hours homework center. The proposed school is in keeping with existing partnerships among the schools and Library, such as the joint-use school-library project at the newly opened Logan Heights Branch Library located on the site of the Logan Heights Elementary School.

7. Why build this project now?

Now is the time to build this shovel-ready project because the land, majority of financing, design and even permits are all in place. Turner Construction delivered a guaranteed maximum price for construction that is below 2005 estimates (more).

This project is crucial to the local economy, particularly at this time, and will have a significant impact on employment, wages and tax receipts. The new Central Library construction project is conservatively projected to generate 1,055 construction-related jobs. 

Additionally, San Diego can benefit from $77.5 million in committed funds -- $20 million in a State Library Grant money, $20 million from the San Diego Unified School District and $40.8 million in private donations ($30.8 million for construction and $10 million for operating).  

For more details, VISIT HERE.

8.  How much will it cost to build this facility? 

The project has a guaranteed maximum price of $184.9 million. This price includes construction costs and other project costs, such as architectural and engineering fees, furniture, fixtures and equipment. This construction project is a construction manager at risk project. Turner Construction will be the construction manager at risk and will be responsible for any costs that exceed the guaranteed maxium price.

9.  How will the project be funded?

Currently, $152.37 million has been raised for construction of this project with an additional $10 million set aside for the first five years of operations. Centre City Development Corporation has allocated $80 million for construction. These funds are earmarked for downtown development and cannot be reassigned for uses beyond downtown. The California State Library has awarded San Diego a $20 million grant for the new Central Library. Once again, these funds are designated for this project and are not available for other uses. The San Diego Unified School District has approved $20 million for a 40-year lease on unused space on the sixth and seventh floors of the building for a charter high school. Finally, private donors have stepped forward to donate $40.8 million—$30.8 million of which is for construction. This is the highest level of private support ever for a public library capital project anywhere outside of New York City. To bring total commitments up to $184.9 million, the San Diego Public Library Foundation has committed to raising an additional $32.53 million by the end of construction.

10.  What is the timeline for building the new Central Library?

The current project timeline calls for:

• City Council approved release of the project to bid (November 2009).
• Guaranteed maximum price delivered to the City (April 2010).
• City Council approved construction on June 28, 2010.
• Construction contract awarded in July 2010.
• Construction begins in August 2010.
• Library grand opening in July 2013.  

11.  How much will it cost to operate this facility?

The new Central Library will cost $2.7 million more annually to operate than the current facility (13). Cost increases are the result of non-personnel expenses associated with a larger facility. The Library anticipates that the new Central Library will operate with the same number of staff as originally proposed for the Library in 2005 – 82 full-time employees (13) by training staff to work across different library sections.

Additionally, the new library is designed to more efficiently allocate staff throughout the building with fewer service points – 11 compared with 13 in the current facility.  These additional operational costs will be covered for the first five years of operation through private donations and increased revenue opportunities. Private contributions of $10 million toward operations will cover $2 million of the $2.7 million increase for those first five years and of operation. Also, the facility will conservatively realize $825,000 in additional annual revenue from parking, café, space rentals and store sales.

For more details, VISIT HERE. 

12.  What has already been spent on the project and where did those funds come from?

Thus far, the City has spent just over $17 million on this project, including $2.4 million spent on work done on a previously considered site that was deemed inadequate. This $17 million has been paid through the $80 million commitment from Centre City Development to the project (15).

For more details, VISIT HERE.

13.  Does the location make sense and is it functional? 

Following extensive study and public input, the site in East Village at Park Blvd. and 11th Ave. near Petco Park was selected as the ideal site for the new Central Library because it is:

• Convenient to public transit and freeways.
• Connects with San Diego’s fastest growing communities and cultures.
• In the heart of commerce and business for the San Diego region.
• Centrally located in the redevelopment area.
• Located along the new Park-to-Bay promenade.
• On City-owned land, making it the most financially favorable location.
• The choice following extensive community input.
•  A family-friendly destination.
• Sufficiently large to permit design of a fully-functional library and provide on-site parking. 

For more details, VISIT HERE.

14.  Who will the Central Library serve?

The Central Library will support the 35 San Diego Public Library branches and serve all the residents of San Diego—particularly students, downtown residents, workers and visitors to San Diego. The Central Library is the heart of the San Diego Public Library system and a new facility will adequately support the entire 35-branch San Diego Public Library system (READ MORE).

Additionally, the new Central Library provides crucial resources to more than 35 schools within two miles, including Brooklyn, Sherman and Washington Elementary; Roosevelt Junior High and Garfield, Monarch, San Diego and the new charter high school. San Diego City College is only a mile away. Additionally, this facility serves as the branch for the one of the county’s fastest growing populations—downtown residents (17). Between 2000 and 2030, the number of downtown residents and workers is projected to more than double with more than 254,000 people living and working downtown in 2030 (18). Additionally, the Central Library serves as the headquarters for the Serra Cooperative Library Systems—a network of 14 public library systems in San Diego and Imperial counties.  

15.  Will the new Central Library be energy efficient?

The new Central Library will demonstrate the City of San Diego’s commitment to energy efficient design. The building incorporates the latest in technological advances, such as the use of photovoltaic cells, which allow the City to achieve a LEED Silver status for this project. This will make the building one of the most efficient public buildings in California. The photovoltaic system proposed for the new Central Library helps convert solar energy into useable electricity. Additional advances, such as a computerized SMART energy meters that will turn off the lights when there is sufficient natural light and long-life florescent bulbs that last for 35,000 hours, contribute to the efficiency of this green building.

For more details, VISIT HERE.

16.  How can I help support the San Diego Public Library and this project?

The mission of the San Diego Public Library Foundation is to create, steward, and support an excellent free public library system by generating private sector support to supplement funding by the government. The Foundation secures private support for the entire San Diego Public Library system, including efforts to build its new Central Library. Individuals interested in providing financial support for neighborhood branches, specific Library programs or the new Central Library project can make a contribution online or may contact Executive Director Jay Hill by email or at 619-236-5861.  For more information on funding opportunities for the new Central Library, VISIT HERE.

 

Project supporters can also become a member of the Friends Library Advocacy group. These advocates receive regular e-mail communications about Library issues and deliver the library's message to elected officials, media, neighbors and community leaders. To join this network, enter your e-mail here.  

 

 

Sources 

1. San Diego Public Library FY09 Official Statistics.
2. San Diego City 2008 estimated population San Diego Association of Governments. 
3. Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007, Gates Foundation and American Library Association.   
4. 10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library, Mark Y. Herring, American Library Association website.
5. Scan This Book, New York Times Magazine, May 14, 2006/
6. To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, National Endowment for the Arts, November 19, 200.
7. Early Learning Left Out: Closing the Investment Gap for America’s Youngest Children, 2nd Edition.
8. The Case for Increased Patronage for Arts and Culture in the San Diego Region. A Research Report of the Arts & Culture Working Group of the San Diego Foundation. April 2006.
9. Florida’s Public Libraries Build Strong Economies: A Taxpayer Return on Investment. 2004.
10. City of San Diego-Main Library Community Needs Assessment.
11. City of San Diego – Main Library Building Program. Submitted as part of an Application to California State Library Office of Library Construction Library Bond Act Grant. 2003.
12. California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 Funds. City of San Diego Application.
13. Library Director’s report to City Council, June 2009.
14. California State Library San Diego New Main Library Evaluation Form, 10/23/03.
15. July 2009 memo from Patti Patti Boekamp, Director of Engineering and Capital Projects in Responses to Questions from Rules Committee Meeting of June 24, 2009, Item No. 2 San Diego New Main Library.
16. Google to Digitize a Million Books with University.
17. 2020 Cities/County Forecast (Zip Code 92101), San Diego Association of Governments.
18. Downtown San Diego Development, Centre City Development Corporation.