35 Libraries. 365 Days.: Central Library

It’d be nearly impossible to understand the San Diego Public Library system without first understanding the Central Library, and thus it seemed to be an apt location at which to begin the blog. I figure this location is where we’ll end as well, around a year from now, hopefully with a better knowledge of the library system and of the city and its inhabitants.

Interestingly, though the Central Library is the most popular and largest branch in the system, it is also one of the newest. Some folks that remember the storied yet crumbling building that housed the old central library (now defunct and still unoccupied in the East Village), may be shocked by the eight stories of Postmodern grandeur that compose the new Central Library, opened in 2013. I’m by no means versed in architecture, but it’s impossible not to appreciate the way local that architect Rob Wellington Quigley incorporates San Diego’s characteristic sunshine into the building with tall ceilings, walls of windows, and different nooks for reading and observing scattered throughout the building. Just one visit to this library would be more than enough to fill entries for this blog for an entire year, but alas, there are other branches to visit and other entries to be written. The library itself is truly breathtaking, both in its size and also in grandeur.

Set in downtown nearby Petco Park and the convention center, it can be a bit difficult to get to the library, and parking can be scarce. Luckily, the 12th & Imperial station of the MTS trolley is located two blocks from the library, and bus routes also. The library also offers two levels of underground parking, free for the first two hours (with validation) and $1.25 for every 20 minutes thereafter. A sprawling collection of terraces and towers unified by a large dome that covers the rooftop, the library’s appearance is great symbol of the city’s commitment to education and community. The entrance feels much like a public square, fit with tables, benches, a coffee stand. These facilities sit between the main entrance to the library, the library’s bookstore, and an auditorium used for weekly concerts, films, lectures, and other events. The library consists of nine floors, including the rooftop.

1st Floor: This floor features the entrances and lobby, as well as service desks and collections of CDs, DVDs, and children’s books.

2nd Floor: Home to the social sciences stacks as well as many desktop computers. Also the location of the teen center, which features a large collection of Young Adult literature, couches and tables, study rooms, and even an Xbox.

3rd Floor: The third floor features stacks, reading areas, and is home to the library's Innovation Lab, a room that hosts workshops and is available by special request. The Lab has computers, a laser cutter, 3D printer, 3D scanner, and other equipment.

4th Floor: This floor features many of the humanities stacks, and also has ample areas for reading.

5th Floor: Like most libraries of its size, each successive floor of the Central Library generally increases in quietness, and so, too does the productivity of its inhabitants. The fifth floor is the last of the main stacks, and is generally the least busy and my personal favorite for reading or studying.

6th Floor: The sixth and seventh floors of the library are home to e3 Civic High, a charter school serving around 250 students from grades 9-12. As is expected, these floors are are not accessible to general library patrons. The school has its own separate entrance to the library, aside from a shared building there is minimal contact between the school and the public. Nevertheless, if visiting the library after 3pm on a weekday, you're sure to see a few students wearing white Oxford shirts with a blue e3 sweater vest.

7th Floor: e3 Civic High School. No Public Access.

8th Floor: This floor is home to more stacks as well as the Society for American Baseball Research's baseball collection, which features an extensive collection of books on the history of the sport, as well as various items of memorabilia. Given that the library is located literally across the street from Petco Park, it's a perfect location for such a great collection.

Roof: The ninth floor of the library is truly a spectacle, offering various rooftop sitting areas with extraordinary views of downtown, the ballpark, Coronado, and the water. For this reason, coupled with access to a large multipurpose room, the roof is often used for various events at the library, ranging from public talks to private, catered events. The roof also offers an art gallery which rotates shows periodically. Lastly, a the roof houses the library's rare book collection, featuring many different manuscripts,texts, and other writings all available for public view during select library hours.

Baseball Collection (Image Property of SABR)

I make a futile effort to describe all that the Central Library houses on its grounds because it serves as a great microcosm for the role that all public libraries play in their respective localities. In an age where information is free and easily accessible, libraries remain relevant in their capacity to bring together people in a community and provide resources and insight that can’t be viewed through a computer screen.