Dove Library receives more funds for a remodel

CARLSBAD— The Dove Library is 15 years old and will be getting a remodel thanks to the City Council’s approval on Tuesday.

The Council unanimously approved granting almost $3 million to remodel the library.

The funds come out of the city’s Capital Improvements Budget.

The remodel will usher the library into the 21st century, with emphasis on technological upgrades and the creation of a community meeting space.

“The methods of delivering library services in a digital age have dramatically changed, along with the community’s expectations for that experience,” said Heather Pizoutto, the Library and Cultural Arts director.

One of the main focuses of the project is creating a community living room, which will be the new heart of the library said the city’s management analyst, Steve Didier.

He said the goal is to invite people into the active space, which will likely have circular couches with power stations, built into the furniture.

People will be able to plug in chargers and use their laptops, tablets and phones without having to find an outlet against the wall.

“We want to transform the main hall into being the heart of the library, where the pulse of the activity is palpable,” said Jonathon Hartman, project manager with Group 4 Architecture, which will spearhead the project.

Plans for a café are also in motion and improvements to the current courtyard will allow people to enjoy food and drinks outside.

More seating will be added along with shade so people can have another meeting space outside.

The hope is that the space will also be available for private rentals, which would generate income for the library.

Hartman also brought up the possibility of hosting functions at night in the courtyard and renderings showed the council what the space could be.

Decorative lights dotted the open-air ceiling, and people mingled over drinks.

Councilwoman Lorraine Wood supported it and said it would be perfect synergy with the art center to host parties before or after shows.

“I think this is a great opportunity to bring the public together and it looks like a beautiful meeting space,” said Wood.

Volunteers from the Carlsbad Friends of the Library came to the meeting to express their concern about moving the bookstore, which is currently in the front of the library.

The bookstore makes about $90,000 annually, according to Friends of the Library President Patricia Roberts.

Volunteers were concerned they would lose business if the location moved to a less-trafficked area in the bookstore.

All of the concepts are in early stages so the council invited volunteers from Friends of the Library to help with the concept plans, when that stage is reached.