JAG (Photo credit: L.A. Filming Location Expert) |
Schipske To Hold Community Meeting on
“Visioning the Future for the Main Library”
Meeting Set for
Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 12:30 pm in
El Dorado Library
Community Room
Long Beach, CA – June 20, 2013 – Councilwoman Gerrie
Schipske is inviting residents to attend a public discussion on “visioning the
future of the Main Library” on Saturday, June 29 at 12:30 pm, in the community
room at El Dorado Library.
Schipske called the meeting after several residents
expressed concern that the public had not be given the opportunity early in the
process of discussing what they want done about the Main Library and that the process and decision would be developer
driven.
“Since its beginning, the City of Long Beach has had a main
library either in or adjacent to its downtown City Hall,” reminds Schipske. “Recently,
the City sent a Request for Qualifications (http://www.uli.org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/Long-Beach-Development-Services.pdf) to interested parties for the possible
construction of a new main library at the current site or the relocation of the
Main Library to another part of the city as part of an overall new Civic
Center. The public has not been asked what they vision for our Main Library.
This meeting can be the start of that discussion.”
The RFQ states about the Main Library: “Rebuild or relocate within the
Downtown area the existing Main Library with a modern facility that meets
current user needs and use patterns, giving it a more prominent identity and
enhancing efficiencies.”
Once the City Council receives all the responses to the RFQ
and their proposals, the Council will have to decide what to do with the
current City Hall, Main Library, and old courthouse.
“While I personally think the City should retrofit and
refurbish the Civic Center and Library which would be less costly, I really
think it is important that the residents provide input on what they want these
facilities to look like and what services they should provide. I invite the
public to attend so we can have this discussion.”
El Dorado Library is located at 2900 N. Studebaker Road.