October 2004 RETURN TO HOME PAGE FEEDBACK

The long-anticipated temporary closing of the Noe Valley­Sally Brunn Library is set for May 2005, says West District Manager Katie Lynds of the San Francisco Public Library. The branch will be closed for about two years for major renovations. Plans for the branch include seismic retrofitting, making the building wheelchair-accessible, and rewiring for faster Internet use. The renovation is being financed with a voter-approved city bond that passed in November 2000.

Meanwhile, library staff are soliciting community feedback. Recently, they conducted a survey of Noe Valley branch patrons, to find out what would be most helpful during the shutdown. "Most people were interested in extended hours at other branches and in bookmobile service," says Lynds, who oversees several branches, including the Noe Valley Library. "We will have both. We'll also be working on providing continuing programs for children, like story time, at an alternate location in the neighborhood."

The bookmobile will be in the neighborhood four days a week for about three hours at a time, but Lynds doesn't yet have the schedule. Library staff and users are trying to figure out where to park the bookmobile and are looking for a separate venue for Noe Valley's preschool story time and infant lapsits.

The survey also asked library users if they would be interested in paying a small fee to have books delivered to their home while the branch is closed. "About 70 percent of people were not interested in that service," Lynds says. "But that doesn't mean we won't have it."

The final results of the survey have not yet been tallied, according to Lynds.

If you'd like to get involved or share your opinions, call the Noe Valley­Sally Brunn Branch Library at 355-5707 or stop by 451 Jersey Street near Diamond Street for more information. *