The City of West Hollywood will celebrate the Dedication and Grand Opening of the New West Hollywood Library on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood. The Dedication Ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. on the West Hollywood Park Plaza. View the Official Dedication Program [PDF]

Best-selling author Jackie Collins will be the Special Guest Speaker at the Dedication Ceremony. Ms. Collins has written 27 novels, all of which have appeared on the New York Times bestsellers list and sold more than 400 million books worldwide which have been translated into 40 languages. Eight of her novels have been adapted for the screen, either as films or television mini-series. Jackie’s current book is the 7th in the Lucky Santangelo series and is titled, “Goddess of Vengeance.” Jackie will also participate in the 10th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at West Hollywood Park and the new West Hollywood Library.

The event will feature musical selections by the Ryan Cross Jazz Quartet and the LA Opera. Cotton candy as well as park-picnic food with a West Hollywood twist will be served! During the Dedication and Grand Opening of the New West Hollywood Library, attendees will also have an opportunity to sign-up for a library card at the Los Angeles County Library Tent or visit the C-SPAN tent for special free giveaways. Other activities include photo opportunities for teens as well as book giveaways and live music for children. There will also be an opportunity to meet library sculpture artist David Wiseman and the library architects Steve Johnson and Jim Favaro.

Remarks will also be made at the Dedication Ceremony by West Hollywood Mayor John J. Duran, West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Jeffrey Prang, West Hollywood Councilmember John D’Amico, West Hollywood Councilmember John Heilman, West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land as well as Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Other guest speakers will include West Hollywood City Manager Paul Arevalo; Los Angeles County Librarian Margaret Donnellan Todd; author and member of the West Hollywood Library Fund Christopher Rice; and Jennifer Parker, Vanity Fair.

Free parking will be available at the West Hollywood Park/Library Parking Garage at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard (enter from Robertson Boulevard at El Tovar Place) and at the Pacific Design Center at 8687 Melrose Avenue. There will also be complimentary Cityline Shuttle service available from Plummer Park to West Hollywood Park. The Cityline Shuttle will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 1st.

“This is the crowning jewel of the vision of the early incorporators of West Hollywood. It is a new civic institution that we can all take great pride in,” said West Hollywood Mayor John J. Duran.

Phase I of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan includes the new West Hollywood Library, City Council Chambers and public meeting rooms, CATV facilities, 2.5 acres of expanded parkland and open space, new tennis courts, and 400 parking spaces in two municipal garages. The City Council Chambers, which will accommodate more than 150 people, will also be used for special performances and presentations.

“With the Internet reshaping so many aspects of our lives, it’s easy to speculate about the usefulness of public libraries,” stated Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Prang. “Libraries are anything but relics of the past. They are key-players in our digitized future. Traditionally viewed as the hub of enlightenment and learning, libraries today, like the New West Hollywood library, are so much more. Embracing technology, our library will increase equity, opportunity, and community development in the information age,” continued Councilmember Prang.

The new 32,000 square foot, LEED-certified West Hollywood Library will serve as the centerpiece of the West Hollywood community. It is designed to showcase the City’s rich intellectual, literary and cultural diversity and provide a landmark facility for the community’s passionate commitment to lifelong learning.

“West Hollywood will always be a City of ideas, a transformational place where people come to learn and grow. This new library is another link to the place of knowledge and action,” said West Hollywood Councilmember John D’Amico.

Building a new library has been a priority of the West Hollywood community since the first General Plan was adopted in 1988. (The current West Hollywood Library is housed in an aging and outgrown building that was built in 1960.)

“Our new library will be a resource for our community for many years to come. We are lucky to have many special areas and special collections,” said West Hollywood Councilmember John Heilman.

“The new West Hollywood Library is an amazing civic building that embodies and reflects the best of our city's values, ideals, creativity and heart,” said West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land, who served as part of the City Council subcommittee overseeing the library project. “From it's beautiful and environmentally-friendly design to its creative programming and community-interest special collections, this Library is truly like no other. I couldn't be more proud of our City and our community for coming together to create a library that is such an incredible gift to our community now, and for generations to come,” continued Councilmember Land.

The new West Hollywood Library, which will continue to be operated by the County of Los Angeles Library, includes: 

• An LGBT area 
• HIV/AIDS Collection 
• Stuart Feigin Computer and Technology areas 
• Wells Fargo Career Development Center 
• Children’s Theatre/Children’s Area 
• Teen Area 
• Art and Design Collection 
• West Hollywood Room and Archive 
• Friends of the Library Bookstore

The New West Hollywood Library will hold more than 150,000 volumes as well as magazines, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and special collections that spotlight West Hollywood’s vibrant diversity and will feature an International Languages Collection; and a collection of large-print materials for Seniors and people who are visually-impaired.

LGBT Area
The one-of-a-kind LGBT area will be one of the largest publicly accessible, circulating collections and will feature an extensive collection of literature, history and personal materials. The current Lesbian and Gay Collection of 4,050 books will grow significantly and the increased space will provide an opportunity for the acquisition of other prominent LGBT collections.

HIV/AIDS Collection
The new West Hollywood Library will have an expanded Ron Shipton HIV Information Center with the most up-to-date educational materials on HIV and AIDS made accessible in a private setting.

Stuart Feigin Computer and Technology Areas
The new West Hollywood technology center will include 16 computers and free internet access, providing a link to the global society for all library users. There will also be Internet Express Stations and technology dedicated to preschoolers, school age children, teens, and accessible assistive technology for people with disabilities. There will be a total of 47 computers with internet access located throughout the library. Free internet is available for all visitors to use with their own personal devices. A video conferencing room will provide live connections to conferences around the world for library users and staff. The City’s CATV broadcast and production facilities will also be housed in the building.

Wells Fargo Career Development Center
The Wells Fargo Career Development Center will assist jobseekers and employers by developing the skills of the current and future workforce. Staff will provide assistance with resume and letter writing, and guidance in researching and reviewing job listings. Equipped with computers, printers, copiers and fax machines, the career development center will be a full-service launch pad for entry or re-entry into the workforce.

Children’s Library/Children’s Theatre
The new West Hollywood Library includes a Children’s Library to inspire children to read. A Children’s Theatre, with elements right out of a storybook for the youngest library users to enjoy, is one of the highlights of the new library design. Imagine a unique theater-within-a-library for storytelling, puppet shows, displays and plenty of library fun where entire families will be able to participate together.

Teen Area
The library will feature a special area for teens to have access to first-rate educational resources to develop the skills needed to succeed. The unique setting will provide a quiet and relaxing place to read, hold group study sessions, lounge and hang-out after school.

West Hollywood Room and Archive
The West Hollywood Room and Archive will include a special collection that serves as a repository of the community’s collective memory. Materials will include published and unpublished books, archives and historical collections that tell the story of the City’s evolution from 1984 to the present. Reference materials will include books, audio and video materials about the history of the City of West Hollywood including: 

• Personal papers of Ron Stone, Chairman of the West Hollywood Incorporation Committee in 1983-84, and a leading advocate of the incorporation of the City of West Hollywood and LGBT rights 
• Information about the West Hollywood Incorporation Committee and the founding of the City of West Hollywood 
• Information about Edward H. Fickett, nationally-recognized architect, who designed the original West Hollywood Library building which was built in 1960 
• City ordinances and copies of the General Plan 
• Recordings of City Council and commission meetings

The West Hollywood Room will be available as a conference room, a research room and a space for board meetings.

Friends of the West Hollywood Library Bookstore
The Friends of the West Hollywood, a non-profit organization which provides volunteer support to the library, will offer books and other unique literary items for sale.

“Certified” Green Building
The new West Hollywood Library will be a landmark public facility designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating and be a certified “Green Building.” Green sustainable features include a photovoltaic system (solar power technology that uses solar cells to convert energy from the sun into electricity); low-emitting materials for paints, coating and carpeting; optimized-energy performance systems for lighting, heating and ventilation; sustainable vegetation; and the use of Green housekeeping products.

West Hollywood Library – Public Art
The new West Hollywood Library will feature two major art installations from renowned artists David Wiseman and Shepard Fairey. The work by David Wiseman which will be located in the interior of the library, will be decorative in nature and reflect the relationship between the New West Hollywood Library and West Hollywood Park. Utilizing plaster, bronze, and porcelain, a series of branches will emerge from the walls and arch into the air space above the stairway, providing a link between the park that surrounds it and the library itself.

The Shepard Fairey mural will provide a deeper contextual link between the library and the community it serves. The artist, although working in a classic mural style, is known for the layering of images creating a deeply dimensional “portrait” of West Hollywood that will reflect historical and architectural elements of the City. This work will provide a historically-significant and community-based project that is not unlike a contemporary version of the highly-regarded Works Progress Administration (WPA) murals completed in the 1930’s in public buildings throughout the United States.

Project Team
The West Hollywood Park Master Plan including the new West Hollywood Library was designed by architects Steve Johnson and Jim Favaro. They are the principals of Johnson Favaro, an architectural and urban design firm located in Culver City. The construction manager is Heery International. Dan Adams, a Senior Associate at Heery, is the Project Director. Adams is also a resident of West Hollywood. The General Contractor is W.E. O’Neil Construction Company.

City Project Team
The City Project Team is led by Paul Arevalo, City Manager, and Joan English, Assistant City Manager; and includes Jeff Huffer, Economic Development Manager; Sam Baxter, Human Services Director; and Oscar Delgado, Public Works Director.

Project Costs
The total cost to complete Phase I of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan is $64 million. The West Hollywood Library Fund, a non profit organization led by a volunteer board of community leaders, seeks to raise $10 million from individuals, corporations and foundations in support of the new West Hollywood Library and implementation of Phase I of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan. The campaign, LibraryPark, has raised nearly $7 million in donations to date.

For more information, regarding Phase I of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan and the new West Hollywood Library, please contact Chris Worland, 25th Anniversary Capital Project Community Liaison, at (323) 848-6511. More information regarding the 25th Anniversary Capital Project.

View the Official Dedication Program [PDF]