At our table at the worldOne 4th of July Festival (2012 & 2013) community event ECLF asked residents what they wanted to see at their library.

Facility (other than location)

• Café (8)
• Cybercafe where people could gather, read and work (3)
• More consistent hours of operation; more weekend hours; more evening hours (5)
• More computers (10)
• Desks/cubicles with electrical outlets and wifi (8)
• (including recommendation for reservations)
• A hi-tech learning center; media center for online research (2)
• Meeting spaces/school activity center (4)
• A community center for people of all ages (2)
• Center of mentoring and tutoring
• Bigger library like Richmond Main
• More places to sit and browse/read
• More space (4)
• Huge TV an Cliford DVD’s (Yuri and Anja)
• Club space
• A garden with reading seats (2)
• More inviting kids’ reading area (2)
• Fish tank in the kids’ section
• Upgrade the library
• I’d love to see a couple small to medium meeting rooms in our new library (2)
• A library conductive to reading/studying. It may be in the existing building or whatever current tax revenue can support.
• A larger facility
• Facility for organizing and hosting themed conversation for small groups (10 max).
• DOG friendly (3)
• Bigger kids area
• Well lit work areas (3)
• Additional parking (2)
• Listen to CDs or watch movies
• Outdoor reading area
• Public community meeting rooms (3)
• Quieter floors (3)
• Wifi (6)
• A reading room
• Rooftop garden
• Coffee snack bar (w/elevator)
• Open atrium
• Natural light (3)
• LEEDS/Green (2)
• Different areas for different users: kids’ area with little tables and open carpet for sitting on the floor; study/computer areas; separate reading area, and a conference room
• Tool library!
• More plugs for laptops, please!
• A museum space in library

Location

• Library and Sr. Center next to Community Center
• — Build on Portola JH site and enlarge (2)
• Any new library should be in the same location. The current location is perfect.
• New library in old Safeway! (2)
• Please keep the library in the same location – rebuild is ok – don’t move it.
• Kensington library is closer. It would be better to have a new El Cerrito Library. I would like to see some science books in the library
• Drive up book return
• Better decoration out front
• Outdoor reading nooks

Collection

• More audio books (3)
• More Chinese books
• More Spanish children’s books
• More help in Spanish
• More e-books (4)
• More newer books on site
• Bigger sci-fi section
• Get ride of old text/research books. Replace with new ideas.
• More DVDs (2)
• Genealogy section with a genealogy specialist
• More science books
• Comic books (2)

Events

• — Storytime for kids in Spanish/English (2)
• More small children’s activities
• More programs
• Field trips
• Bring writers to read and share their work
• Science experiments
• Have Spanish and Japanese story times and activities

Other

• Whatever we decide to put in the new library doesn’t worry me—we just need to build the new library NOW!
• Books are good!
• Libraries are very essential for all ages! Go for it!
• There’s nothing like holding a book in your hand and escaping into the world of imagination.
• Knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving classes
• Hot tub
• Chose your own adventure
• I want ice cream and candy at the library
• Build adjacent to playground to encourage young and developing readings and families
• A comfortable and a large community room where we can hold interesting programs about the history of El Cerrito and West County
• Fair trade coffee shop on site and office/work corners & tables