University Community

The University Community branch library is located in University City, a large area named for it's proximity to the University of California, San Diego. The University City community is essentially composed of two main areas and each has its own branch library. University Town Center (UTC), the region directly to the east of UC San Diego, is home to the North University Community branch, and the area has a large concentration of apartments, condominiums, shopping centers, and office parks. Divided from UTC by Rose Canyon, the southern part of University City is primarily a residential area with single family homes, and is home to the University Community branch.

I haven't been able to get an exact date on when the University Community branch opened, but I would definitely date around the 1960s or 70s, which is when many of the homes in University City were built. As with many branches, the library also serves as a community center for the area. It's a medium sized branch, and has a separate meeting room and children's area from its main center stacks and computers.

 

North Clairemont

Second only to North Park, the North Clairemont branch is one of the oldest libraries in the SDPL system that I've visited over the course of this blog. Opened in 1962, the exterior of the branch is very reminiscent of the time period, with Googie style architecture and a roof designed to look like it's floating above the building. The library was designed by San Diego architect Robert J. Platt, who also designed the current Oak Park and San Carlos branch libraries in addition to numerous residences and businesses in throughout San Diego. Accordingly, the North Clairemont branch has a similar size and organization to the Oak Park and San Carlos branches; it's around 4,000 square feet, maybe a bit less, and every part of the branch is in one main room.

Entrance and Roof of Library (photo from Roadarch.com)

While small, the library doesn't feel cramped, and is well kept despite its age. All of the main stacks are in the back left part of the building, while the right side has computer and seating areas.

Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego began to develop to its current form in the 1950s as a postwar planned community. It's primarily a middle-class residential area, inhabited by families and retirees. Clairemont Mesa area covers a very large geographic area, and the neighborhood actually has three different SDPL branches within its borders: North Clairemont, Clairemont, and Balboa.