Presidio Library rehab moves forward

Residents meeet architects about plan to renovate 87-year-old facility

by Jonathan Farrell

The downstairs meeting room of the Presidio Branch Library was filled to capacity July 8 as residents attended a community meeting to discuss renovation plans for the 87-year-old building.

Presidio Branch manager Marjorie Breen was present, along with fellow staff members and SF Public Library administrators, to welcome everyone and encourage an open dialog with the project's architects.

Two architectural firms, Field Paoli and Joseph Chow & Associates, will be working in a joint-effort to renovate and restore the historical Carnegie-endowment landmark, located at 3150 Sacramento St. The site is often used as a gathering place for the neighborhood.

Plans for the Presidio Branch are part of the Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP), which voters passed in 2000. The $106 million bond program is providing money to rebuild or renovate 17 branch libraries and to build a new branch at Mission Bay.

"The plans would be for the interior of the branch, not so much the exterior," said Mindy Linetzky, program administrator for the bond program.

Seismic reinforcements and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act were completed to the Italian-Renaissance style branch in the early '90s. But, because of technological innovations in the past 15 years, renovations are needed.

The Presidio Branch has more than 147,000 materials in circulation and had more than 61,000 visitors in the past year.

"San Franciscans love their libraries," Linetzky said.

"We need better utilization of space and 21st century state-of-the-art equipment to manage," said Brian Bannon, chief of library branches.

Bannon also said San Francisco hopes to "set a trend across the nation in its efforts to incorporate high environmental standards," making all 28 branches "green libraries."

With CDs and DVDs included among the book titles that the library lends, there has been a 53 percent increase in the past three years.

Because computer skills have become a larger part of the learning experience at schools, libraries need to accommodate and assimilate into the digital age.

The ability to have more efficiency in the citywide distribution and retrieval of materials is vital as the volume and frequency is growing.

The focus of the branch renovation will be improving accessibility and to include learning-interactive programs, enhancing collections, etc. With dozens of architects applying for the job, "the choice of architects was very competitive," Linetzky said.

The budget for the renovation is approximately $2.4 million, not including furniture and equipment. Friends of the SF Public Library is raising funds from private donations for new furniture, equipment and fixtures.

Field Paoli, with a staff of 70, was founded more than 20 years ago with a mission to work on community projects. Of its 12 current community projects, eight are libraries.

Speaking on behalf of Field Paoli, architect Mark Schatz said he was very pleased to be working on the project.

"Designing for libraries is exciting because it is about making a difference for the community. This work is not exclusive but reaches out to all people," he said.

Schatz said the architects for the project were present at the community meeting to listen to community needs and concerns.

Joyce Chow, of Joseph Chow & Associates, agreed.

"There will be several community meetings like this one before the final architectural design is approved," she said.

The Presidio Branch will close some time in 2009, after renovations at the Richmond/Senator Milton Marks Branch are completed.

Several of the 40 or so people who attended the meeting wanted to know about landscaping.

They were assured that the historical integrity of the branch, built in 1921, would be preserved.

The lawn and foliage outside the branch were installed by John McLaren, the first superintendent of Golden Gate Park.

"I hope the plans are to keep this lawn space much like it is," said Jack Bellingham, a local resident.

For more information about the Presidio Branch Library's renovation plans, call (415) 557-4354 or visit the library's Web site at www.sfpl.org.