Years of Planning Pay Off as Building Project Takes Off
The Santa Cruz Public Library System (SCPL), has announced the official closure date of the Capitola Branch Library on May 1 to begin construction of a new branch facility. However, the last day the library will be open for business will be Saturday April 28. The official estimate for construction time is 18 months to 2 years.
The existing Capitola Library is currently housed in a temporary structure that has outlasted its lifetime. The City of Capitola has planned to build a new library for many years and set aside money for the project. In June 2016, voters passed Measure S, which funds library building projects through a parcel tax. With this money, the SCPL is finally able to give Capitola the 21st Century Library building it deserves.
Library Director Susan Nemitz who has previous experience working on library building projects said, “It’s important to mitigate the impact of the closure on the community. We really had to think about the best way to deliver service in the area without having a physical building.” As a result, SCPL has released a series of FAQ’s to help people prepare for the closure, and to direct them to services during the closure.
Access to Library Services During Closure
Capitola Library users are encouraged to change their hold pickup location to any other branch in the library system, and change their “Home Branch” to another branch library by accessing their account online.
All books and media held at the Capitola Library must be retrieved before its last open day on April 28. Any holds remaining at the Capitola Library at the end of the day will be transferred to the Aptos Branch.
Books and media may be returned at any branch library. We will also have a drive-up return box at the Jade St. Community Center, 4400 Jade St., beginning May 1.
Library services are accessible from any branch library during open hours, by phone at 831-427-7713, or by emailing [email protected]. Many of our entertainment and research collections are available online via our website at santacruzpl.org.
SCPL has also added two additional Bookmobile stops in proximity to the library. The Bookmobile will visit the Live Oak Senior Center every other Tuesday 2:15 – 3:00 p.m. starting May 1, and the Mid-County Senior Center every other Wednesday 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. starting May 9.
Tales to Tails programming will move to the Aptos Library and take place 1st and 3rd Mondays 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. and 1st Saturday of the month 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Preschool Storytime will take place at the Porter Memorial Library Fridays 11:00 a.m. to Noon, and MAKE & Explore will be held at the Children’s Museum of Discovery in the Capitola Mall on Fridays 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. starting June 1.
The collection of books and media at Capitola is currently being evaluated and the best items are being reassigned to other branches. The Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries will hold a big book sale in the branch after it has closed on May 19 and 20, before demolition begins. Everything, including furniture and fixtures, will be for sale.
All staff at the Capitola Branch will be reassigned to nearby branches. You may see familiar faces when you visit a new branch!