January 28, 2005

Community celebrates opening of first library branch in Tully Road neighborhood

New facility to serve as Evergreen’s temporary branch location

By Bea Baechle
Editor

The chilly, wet atmosphere couldn’t dampen the spirits of neighborhood residents gathered outside to celebrate the opening of Tully Community Branch Library on Jan. 22. That’s because this community has waited for a branch library for a very long time.

Wild horses couldn’t have dragged the anxious crowd away from the opening of the first library in this Tully neighborhood.

The 24,300-square-foot facility designed by Anderson Brulé Architects, Inc. of San Jose, and constructed by Ralph Larsen & Son, Inc. of Belmont, Calif., enters San Jose history as the:

- First San Jose Public Library branch located in the Tully Road neighborhood

- Second library completed with funding provided by a $212 million branch improvement bond measure approved by voters in November 2000

- First branch to include a Family Learning Center with programs and equipment supporting adult learning and family literacy

- Branch with one of the largest collection of Vietnamese language materials outside of San Jose’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.

“Thanks to our voters who know the value of libraries and strongly support them, the Tully Community Branch Library will add to this neighborhood’s quality of life,” said Mayor Ron Gonzales.

“Today’s celebration reflects our community’s firm priority to invest in opportunities for learning, literacy and discovery that will enrich the lives of our families in every area of San Jose,” he added.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Gonzales also acknowledged the challenges that this District 7 neighborhood is facing in light of Councilmember Terry Gregory’s resignation amid corruption allegations. “We will work as a team to make sure your needs are heard and that no projects get dropped,” Gonzales assured the crowd.

San Jose Public Library Director Jane Light told the patrons that this is their library—use it and take care of it. “It’s been said that before fourth grade, children learn to read. After fourth grade, they read to learn. If they have access to literacy they will be successful in school, and if they’re successful in school, they’ll be successful in life.”

She noted that when the Internet was first launched, some people speculated that people would stop reading books and visit libraries less. But according to Light, book circulation in the San Jose Public Library system is at the highest level it’s ever been, and the San Jose Public Library system is one of the most active in the country, serving 12,000 customers a day.

Exemplifies new approach to designing libraries
Tully Community Branch Library is the most complete expression to date of San Jose’s new approach to designing library environments. The library worked with the design team to achieve its vision for dynamic spaces and experiences that transform the traditional library into one relevant to today’s diverse and sophisticated users.

Mother and child plop down on a soft cushion in the children’s area of the new Tully Community Branch Library.

“For some time now we’ve been experimenting with and refining the management of interior spaces within the confines of existing branches,” said San Jose Public Library Director Jane Light. “The library we’re opening today embodies lessons learned from those experiences filtered through what residents have told us they want.”

The new library features 135 seats, 42 public computers, 24 group study areas, 30 storytelling areas, 70 parking spaces and a community room that holds 109 people.

The design references the agricultural heritage of the site and establishes a benchmark for other libraries to be constructed under the Branch Library Bond Program. The project incorporated green design principles and was completed $600,000 under budget at a total project cost of $10.5 million.

The Tully Community Branch Library is located at 880 Tully Rd., between Lucretia Avenue and Senter Road in San Jose, adjacent to five little league fields and the Coyote Creek Trail. The hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 a.m. and Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For general information, call (408) 808-3030.