Alpine turns a page with new library

library opening web.jpg

By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
Hundreds of people celebrated the May 21 grand opening of Alpine’s new library!
Children were everywhere during the sunny morning ceremony at the San Diego County Library’s newest community landmark at 1752 Alpine Blvd.

By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
Hundreds of people celebrated the May 21 grand opening of Alpine’s new library!
Children were everywhere during the sunny morning ceremony at the San Diego County Library’s newest community landmark at 1752 Alpine Blvd.
“It’s an affirmation of us as a community,” Jose Aponte, director of the library system, told the crowd.  “It’s good for business, getting a job, networking, bridging with other people.”
Made possible with $10.7 million in county funding, the new building’s fixtures and furnishings reflect $460,000 raised by the Alpine Library Friends Association.
“This is a story of promises made and promises kept,” ALFA President Christine Connell said, outlining the library campaign’s history. “We got a triple A library.”
Chairman Ben Everhart of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce presented a Certificate of Recognition to honor the significant occasion.
Board member and Chamber Ambassador Darryl Bush of Keller Williams Realty with Ambassadors Sallie Brown of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Roger Garay and Jan Morse, both of On Line Bookkeeping & Tax Service, and Carol Morrison of the Alpine Historical Society also participated.
“This library’s going to be here a long time . . . and I know the businesses are going to support it as well,” said Everhart, co-owner of Comfort Keepers in El Cajon.
Once the doors opened everyone crowd couldn’t wait to get inside.
“Mommy, mommy, I found a book I really want!” a little girl squealed.
Misty Neal of Alpine said she thought the library is “gorgeous” and credited the architects with doing “an amazing job.”
Alpine Boy Scout Troop 105 provided the flag and color guard for the pledge of allegiance during the opening ceremony. Joan MacQueen Middle School’s Band played. A dozen local queens and princesses gave the event a royal touch.
Entertainment included the Alpine Chorale, Adrienne Nims and Spirit Wind, and The Alternatives.
The new building has Alpine’s foothills village look. The library now has large rooms to house thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, computers, programs and comfortable nooks and crannies.
With 12,700 square feet of space the building is four times larger than the former small leased location on Arnold Way. At the old site the library staff checked out more than 10,000 books, movies and music CDs to more than 6,000 visitors a month.
“The (new) Alpine Library is a model for all future buildings the county will build,” said Dianne Jacob, East San Diego County Supervisor. “It’s the first of its kind government building in the county.”
The zero net energy structure will produce as much or more energy than it’s using, Jacob explained. She noted that not everybody may like the library’s look, but there are sound reasons for every architectural feature. .
Guest speakers Dan Steuer, the county’s assistant chief administrative officer; April Heinze, deputy chief administrative office, and architects Manuel Oncina and Philip Pape helped mark the occasion.
Call the new Alpine Library at (619) 445-4221 or visit www.sdcl.org for more information about hours, materials and programs.

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