CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

CdM Library Branch Re-Opens on Golden Anniversary

The Corona del Mar library branch celebrated its 50th anniversary today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand re-opening party.

“This is a real testament to our community,” said Councilwoman Nancy Gardner, who cut the blue ribbons at 9 a.m. “It’s a real triumph what a community can do when it works together.”

The Corona del Mar branch opened on July 28, 1959 — two years after the Friends of the Library group was founded to raise money to fund it. Since the 1940s, village library services had been through storefronts or schools. Then a few years ago, declining circulation numbers at the branch led to discussions of shutting it for good and possibly using the site to expand the neighboring fire station on Marigold Avenue. But the community united and ultimately, the library was revamped to suit local needs.

Now, the library will be open until 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, said Cynthia Cowell, library services director. You can check out a laptop or use your own at several new desks equipped with power sources, making it a great study spot, she said. The newly remodeled branch has more children’s books and story hours, as well as bestsellers. Any older book or movie can be ordered from the Central Library and be ready to be picked up in a day.

Helga Jeremias of Corona del Mar said she loved the library and had attended a meeting last year to try to save it. “It would be a pity if we didn’t have it any more,” she said. “I’m so glad it stayed. It’s our little cultural spot in Corona del Mar — it shows that people here read and use their brains.”

Most of the visitors who stopped by to check out the new space said they liked the open design, although one woman passing through said she missed the selection of older books it used to carry. More than a dozen visitors were on hand for the opening ceremonies, including members of the Corona del Mar Residents Association and Fire Captain Steve Lewis.

The branch will be holding story hours and other events throughout the week with a party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday to include balloon artists crafts and more; check the library website for more information.

Meanwhile, visitors this week are asked to write down their favorite memories of the branch, with participants eligible for raffled gift baskets.

Read more Corona del Mar Today library coverage here and here.