Carlsbad CA— The modernization and renovation of the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane will be celebrated with a community appreciation event on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free celebration will include a reopening ceremony, tours, live music, children’s activities and more.
Improvements to the 17-year-old Dove Library will transform the library into a modern space to meet the community’s changing needs in an increasingly digital age.
“We appreciate the patience of our library patrons during the closure,” said City of Carlsbad Library & Cultural Arts Director Heather Pizzuto. “We are excited to welcome the community back to explore the new spaces and amenities now available at the Dove Library.”
Improvements focused on enhancing community gathering spaces and seeking to create a “living room” feel by removing the south staircase and adding more comfortable seating areas for patrons. Outdoor improvements had the same goal and included redesigning the courtyard and adding a new patio and café with expanded food and drink options. The improved outdoor spaces will allow for new opportunities for outdoor library programs and events.
Individual and collaborative use was improved with enhanced technology and Wi-Fi connectivity and power access, additional study rooms and a new tech lab to serve as a versatile learning center. The tech lab will offer both instructional courses and lab hours for patrons to explore AV post production, 3d printing, circuitry and electronics, and analog to digital conversion. Similar to the Cole Library, the Dove Library also added dedicated teen areas where young adults can gather to study or collaborate. A new Friends of the Library bookstore was also part of the project.
The Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, located in the Carlsbad City Library complex, was remodeled to improve accessibility and enhance visibility of the stage. The auditorium’s video production and other audio-visual equipment was upgraded to new digital technology.
The reopening of the Dove Library completes the second phase of the city’s library modernization project that also included improvements to the 49-year-old Cole Library on Carlsbad Village Drive.
The Carlsbad City Council approved an $11 million budget for the renovation of two of its three libraries to meet the changing needs of the community in today’s digital age. The renovation plans, shaped by community input, were designed to improve the user experience for the more than 65,000 monthly visitors to city libraries.
Carlsbad libraries circulate 1.3 million books, DVDs and other materials every year, along with providing a wide range of digital resources. About 85 percent of city residents visit the library in person or online every year, and 57 percent use library services on a monthly basis.