The City Council approved an application for $9 million in state funds to build a new library. If the state awards the funds and the council accepts them, the city would have to contribute $7 million toward the new library.
Charles Walton Associates, the architect selected to design the $3.5 million library renovation, will hold a "design camp" at the library where the public, library staff and city officials will informally discuss possible design plans.
In an informal, long-range planning session, City Council members made a new library and police station two of their top priorities. Last month, the council approves spending $55,000 to hire a consultant, to be chosen at the June 19th meeting, to draw up plans for a new library to replace the overcrowded library.
A new or improved public library could become a reality in the near future. The current library is bursting at the seams with increasing amounts of books, computer equipment and an increasing number of people using the 28-year-old library.
City Council recently approved a five-year $34.6 million capital improvement program that will include some refurbishing of City Hall and library facilities, along with a new fire department and preparations for a new police facility.
The City Council gave preliminary approval Wednesday to an expansion of the Arcadia Public Library that may add 15,000 square feet of space at a cost of about $3.5 million.
Tuesday's City Council meeting saw a 4-1 approval of a recommendation to direct staff to prepare to place a 2% utility tax on the ballot in April 1998.
The Arcadia Public Library has joined the Metropolitan Cooperative Library System. Library users will have access to MCLS libraries, SCAN (Southern California Answering Network at Los Angeles Public Library) and SCILL (Southern California Interlibrary Loan Network).
The annual Friends of the Arcadia Public Library booksale will feature 50,000 used books ranging in price from $.75 to $7. This is potentially the last sale since a book shop is part of the design for the library expansion project, scheduled for ground-breaking in November, 1994.
To help reach its goal of raising $1.2 million to provide interior details for the new Arcadia Public Library, the Library Foundation is sponsoring a Day at the Races during the Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita Park.
The Children's Room will be completely refurbished - partly with city funds and partly from a drive headed by Mayor Charles Gilb. It will be renamed the Jerry Broadwell Children's Library as a memorial to Fire Captain Jerry Broadwell who died in a fire in August 1975.
The Arcadia City Council approved a $57.4 million budget for 1993-94 that includes a new fire station, renovation of the library and revitalizing the downtown area.