Politics & Government
New Imperial Beach Library Takes First Steps
if funding is located to pay for construction, a new library could be almost three times bigger than the current library and incorporate an existing community center.
Imperial Beach's current library is inadequate, said County Supervisor Greg Cox during a Jan. 23 City Council meeting.
"In Imperial Beach you have a library that is about 5,000 square feet. It's way undersized for a community the size of Imperial Beach. With 25-30,000 people you'd expect to see a library of anywhere between 10-15,000 square feet," he said.
To explore the possibility of finding $6-8 million from private and philanthropic organizations for a new 14,000 square foot library, a feasibility study was unanimously approved by the IB City Council Wednesday.
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"We think that there may be some opportunities for people that may be looking into naming opportunities of some type in different segments of the library," Cox said.
Conceptual drawings of the library show a giant surfboard spans between street and Veterans Park entrances.
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The new library may have a surf or ocean theme and would be built on current parking spaces behind the library and would combine the existing library and Marina Vista Community Center.
Among possible features in the new library are a larger space to use computers, a Poet's Patio, community room and designated space for children, teens, tweens and adults. There may also be more staff office space and a book store.
See a copy of the conceptual floor plan attached here in PDF form.
The county has already set aside $1 million for the project, Cox said.
If the study conducted by a contractor and paid for by the county finds that private funds may be available to pay for the new library, meetings will be held with the public and a committee that has been formed to review the study may continue on to help raise money.
Supervisor Cox identified a new library as a priority of his term in office after being reelected last fall.
"I want to get this done in the next four years and that's what I intend to do with your help," he told the Imperial Beach City Council.
The San Diego County Library was named the best library system in the nation last year by the Gale/Library Journal.
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