Frye Opens First Library of the 21st Century

Councilmember Frye completes top priority with opening of Mission Valley Library

Councilmember Frye, the Mayor, Councilmember Atkins and Councilmember Madaffer cut the ribbon at the grand opening.

Councilmember Frye, the Mayor and Clifford ride the trolley to the grand opening.

Councilmember Frye awards the winners of the costume contest.

On Saturday, July 20, 2002 I completed one of my top priorities by opening the long awaited Mission Valley Library. This new library will be a great resource for Mission Valley and surrounding communities. The opening of the Mission Valley Library marks a number of firsts for libraries in San Diego. This is the first library located strategically next to the trolley line so that it is easily accessible. This is also the first library to stay open until 10 o'clock at night.

The grand opening of the library began with a trolley ride at Hazard Center and culminated at the library where the doors were officially opened to the public for the first time. The events at the library centered around children, with a costume contest, the Cat in the Hat, Clifford and the San Diego Jr. Theatre. The San Diego Youth Commissioners volunteered handing out complimentary bookmarks.

The building of this library was the result of many people working toward a common goal. Numerous people, such as the Friends of the Mission Valley Library and the Mission Valley Community Council, volunteered their time to make this dream a reality.

The new $7 million library is located in Fenton Marketplace. The 19,760-square-foot facility consists of a large community room, two seminar rooms, a computer lab, reading areas, and a children's library. The site has 85 parking spaces and is located adjacent to the Fenton Parkway trolley station making it easily accessible by public transit.

The Mission Valley library will have the longest hours of any of the public libraries in the City of San Diego. This will make it accessible to our working families in the Sixth District. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; and 2 to 10 p.m., Sunday.

Wheeler Wimer Blackman & Associates designed the new library and Kvaas Construction built it. The City's Engineering and Capital Projects Department managed the project.

The asymmetry of the design reflects the dignity of a public building and pays homage to the historical past of Mission Valley. The shallow vaulted metal roof is reminiscent of the dairy farms and cow barns that dotted the valley many years ago.

Visual highlights of the library are interior designs by Michelle Linback and public art by Joyce Cutler-Shaw. Grand steel columns designed to resemble tree branches support large steel plates cut into the shape of a sycamore tree canopy. The library's mezzanine is edged with a brass and steel protective railing with etchings of tall valley grasses. The mezzanine itself will provide the community with the opportunity to venture outside to read a book, gaze at the panoramic views of the valley or savor the cool ocean breezes. The library's clock tower has a glass top that will glow with a different color every 15 minutes.

One of the more enchanting places will be the east garden opposite the children's library. This garden "oasis" comes complete with a shallow linear reflecting pool meandering its way toward the San Diego River.

The library received accolades even before it opened. The San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently presented "Best Institutional Design" and "Best Divine Details" awards for the library's design.

H.G. Fenton Co. helped make this project possible by donating the 2-acre site for the library. Other donors include Fenton Marketplace's property manager Sudberry Properties, IKEA, Westfield Shoppingtown, Patty Schreibman-Radcliff and Ron Radcliff, Family and Friends in Memory of Natasha Brigitta Radcliff, Family and Friends of Russell V. Grant, Vulcan Materials, Time Warner Cable, Archstone-Mission Valley, Continental Homes and Shea Homes.

Additional Resources For The New Mission Valley Library

Council District 6 Mission Valley Community Page
Council District 6 Priority Number Seven
Library Volunteer Opportunities
Literacy Services: READ/ San Diego
Library Card and Borrowing Procedures