Cover Story

PROMISE KEEPER

Tricia Wynne, chair of the Aptos Committee for Realizing the Promise, says the rebuilt Aptos Library will be a “beautiful, modern space that reflects our community.”

| APTOS LIFE FEBRUARY 16, 2022 4

Tarmo Hannula

Book It Santa Cruz Public Libraries surpasses fundraising goal, begins work on Aptos branch

By JOHANNA MILLER

It’s an exciting time for libraries in Santa Cruz County.

From La Selva Beach to Boulder Creek, branches in the Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) system are being modernized, expanded and reimagined. And with the help of its nonprofit partner Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries (Friends), SCPL recently surpassed a $1 million fundraising goal through its Realizing the Promise Campaign.

“Libraries are hubs of the community,” says Yolande Wilburn, who took the helm as SCPL director last month. “They strengthen the resilience of our communities. Modernday libraries are not just repositories of books and information, but places where people can come together.”

Wilburn says libraries are especially important when communities experience major crises, such as natural disasters like last year’s CZU wildfires. This is why updating branches with high-speed WiFi, extra electrical outlets and more is so important.

“If there’s an emergency, people can come get answers and help,” she says. “With public safety power outages, it might be the only place you can go. So we need facilities that are up to current standards. We want to make sure our buildings can support the public’s needs.”

Wilburn’s first day as director was Jan. 3. She has extensive experience in libraries across the country, including in Chicago, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Nevada County, and Torrence. She even worked at a library abroad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

When she saw the position in Santa Cruz was open, she jumped on the opportunity.

“I love this area,” she says. “I saw this job open up, and it inspired me to apply. I’m so grateful to be here.”

Wilburn called SCPL’s ongoing projects “incredible”. Capitola’s new branch opened last summer and is extremely popular, she says. Prior to the pandemic, Felton’s new library opened, complete with an adjacent park and walking trail. La Selva Beach’s redesigned branch opened last year, and Boulder Creek and Garfield Park will hopefully open by early summer.

Scotts Valley and Branciforte also plan to reopen in 2022. Live Oak’s reimagining of its library will also include an annex at Simpkins Swim Center, providing community rooms and study spaces. In Santa Cruz, plans have been set in motion for a mixed-use project that will include a new library branch and more than a hundred units of affordable housing.

Aptos Re-Imagined

In Aptos, work has begun on the rebuild of the library on Soquel Drive. Originally built in 1975, the branch is the second busiest in the system. It is scheduled to reopen in 10-11 months.

“There have not been many improvements in years,” says Tricia Wynne, chair of the Aptos Committee for Realizing the Promise. “We’ve outgrown it. Because of the way it was designed, there wasn’t really a way to remodel it in a cost effective manner. The bids came in for a tear down and rebuild.”

The library is working with the Aptos History Museum to incorporate pieces into the new space, and a public art piece is planned for the exterior. A new Teen Room will offer teenagers their own space, and group study rooms will be available to reserve for free. Three gardens will be accessible from various exits of the library.

Wynne adds that a theme, “Forest to the Bay” will be applied to the space: Color schemes of greens, browns and blue will aim to reflect the natural environment of the region.

“It’s just going to be a spectacular library,” Wynne says. “We’re going to end up with a beautiful, modern space that reflects our community.”

A bulk of fundraising for Realizing the Promise was met in 2016 when voters supported Measure S, a $67 million bond for library facility improvements. But rising construction costs left a large gap in funding just last year.

“When the architects got back to us, the gap was a million dollars,” says Janis O’Driscoll, president of Friends. “We gulped because that is a big number, and we are in the middle of a pandemic. But we said, ‘okay, that’s our goal.’”

Realizing the Promise reached the million-dollar mark on Christmas Eve. More than 500 donors gave, including individuals, organizations and through special tributes. More than $68,000 of that was raised through the annual holiday fundraising campaign Santa Cruz Gives, a countywide effort that doubled in size in 2021.

“In spite of the pandemic, in spite of that large number, it happened,” O’Driscoll says. “We did it. I want everyone to know how much we thank them for their support.”

For more information, visit santacruzpl.org and fscpl.org.

MONTH 2022 | FEBRUARY 16, 2022 5