White Rock Branch Library Soft Opening Tomorrow!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on July 28, 2015
- 10:35 pm

The new White Rock Branch Library is having a soft opening at 10 a.m., Wednesday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

The information desk at the new White Rock Branch Library. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County Library System Manager Steve Thomas during a tour last week of the new White Rock Branch Library. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

LIBRARY News:

The White Rock Branch Library on Sherwood Boulevard is holding a soft opening at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 29. Children’s programs at the new branch will start next week.

“Everything is mostly done and we’re excited for our community to start using the building,” Librarian Veronica Encinas said. “Tomorrow should be a great day.”

The books are on the shelves and systems are up and running. Over the past week, staff has coordinated the moving of tens of thousands of volumes and the final set-up of all of the furnishings and equipment.

“It’s been a long journey that’s involved hundreds of participants over many years,” Library Manager Steven Thomas said. “I can’t wait for the building to open. I think people will really enjoy it and all of the new features will enable us to expand library services in the upcoming months and years.”

Although the building will be largely operational tomorrow, users should expect a work in progress over the next several weeks. Fine-tuning still to be done will include:

Contractors working through punch-list items throughout the building over the next 30 days.
The arrival of a few pieces of furniture that arrived late or damaged.
Refinement of the building’s technology, including troubleshooting any initial glitches and installation of some still-to-arrive hardware including monitors in the study rooms, online catalogs, etc.
Installation of additional pieces of art and directional signage throughout the building.

Dozens of staff members have participated in the move. “It’s been a lot of hard work,” Student Shelver Rose Sartor said. “But it’s been a lot of fun and helped me get to know all of the other people who work throughout the library.”

“Tomorrow will be fun,” said Electronic Services Manager Gwen Kalavaza – who has been working on the project in various capacities for more than 10 years. “Getting to do a soft opening two days before the official one will let us start putting our plans into action and working with our community to shape the building to their needs.”

The building’s official groundbreaking and grand opening is 11 a.m. Friday, July 31. On that day, the library will have a late opening at noon to accommodate the ceremony.

Los Alamos County Library System Manager Steve Thomas shows off the seating area with a fireplace in the new White Rock Branch Library. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

White Rock Branch Library Project Manager Anthony Strain, right, speaks with library staff during last week’s tour. Strain brought the project in on time and slightly under budget, which allowed for some extras in the new facility. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com