Tables with crafts and cookies. Speeches. An architectural tour. These were all part of Saturday’s celebration of the 10-year anniversary major renovations of the Rinconada Library in Palo Alto.
The celebration was a part of the “Love Your Libraries” initiative, and according to Library Services Manager RuthAnn Garcia, it recognized the importance of libraries in the community.
“Our ‘Love Your Libraries’ initiative is our plan to celebrate all of our locations and the communities they serve,” Garcia said. “We hope that our buildings, services, events and collections resonate well with the community and their needs.”
City Mayor Ed Lauing, City Manager Ed Shikada and Library Director Gayarthi Kanth gave speeches about Rinconada’s milestones in the past decade to start the event.
During the event, an architectural presentation and tour was hosted by Group 4 Architecture. This presentation showcased the 2015 modern remodeling done to Rinconada Library and the background of the historical building.
Tables across the library’s courtyard were lined with paper crafts for kids, with activities from organizations such as Allcove to promote the importance of mental health. The event also featured displays showcasing community programs by the art center and community gardens.
Garcia said all the events were chosen to represent the library’s place in the community.
“The events and activities reflect the work we’ve done here over the last 10 years,” Garcia said. “We’ve done a great amount of programming and have collaborated with our community neighbors. … We’ve also launched great services here, like our Seed Library and have helped develop pollinator gardens to support the sustainable efforts of our community members.”
According to City Mayor Ed Lauing, celebrating the founding of the building is important as it is a central part of the community and more than just a library.
“The library is a magnificent building, but you can really underscore the fact that it’s a community center,” Lauing said. “Our citizens love the libraries. During the [COVID-19] pandemic, that was the thing that they missed the most and wanted back as quickly as possible.”
As the “Love Your Libraries” initiative continues to expand to all library locations, the next celebration is expected to take place in the summer at the Children’s Library once it has reopened.
