Dana Point residents could soon see the blue fencing surrounding their local library come down after more than a year of renovations on the branch.
“Every time I drive by it, I don’t even expect it to be open,” said Clara Beard, who volunteered as a board member with the Friends of the Dana Point Library for six years.
“It’s just kind of like a ghost.”
The mid-1970s style library shut its doors to the public over a year ago to undergo renovations on December 4, 2023.
The project – estimated to cost $5.58 million dollars – includes work both inside and outside the library.
“The library was a community of readers. The renovations affected more than just people coming in and checking out books,” said Beard. “It kind of created a ripple effect throughout all aspects of the community.”
The library has no definite opening date, but is projected to open in late spring according to Danilo Seranilla, Orange County Public Libraries spokesperson.
“The library offered everyone access to books, easy access to books,” said Lisa Buchner, President of the Friends of the Library.
“We have seniors living in our community, but we also have children that miss the storytime.”
The new interior space will include a separate teen space and a quiet study room, along with new lighting, paint, carpet, furniture, shelving and other improvements like heightened energy efficiency.
In the library’s redesign, the Friends of the Library bookstore’s shelf space will shrink due to a new floor plan that would comply with standards of the Americans with Disability Act, according to Buchner.
“We are going to have to be very discreet about what we can collect,” said Buchner.
County library officials did not confirm that there would be less shelf space, re-affirming that shelving was changed to allow for wheelchair accessibility.
The bookstore offered books from genres such as history, religion, young adult, children’s, art, tabletop books and new fiction at low prices.
Funds from the bookstore sponsor adult and children’s programming at the library, such as an AWE computer station providing educational games in English and Spanish.
Outside work includes regrading the parking lot and creating an “inviting outdoor space for library patrons” with a new patio entrance, according to Seranilla.
The library served over 94,000 patrons before its closure in 2023.
The Dana Point Library first opened its doors to the community on July 6th, 1977.
The Dana Point Library will offer its former programming – book clubs and storytimes – and gain a collection of toys, kitchen tools and musical instruments for a Library of Things.
Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. You can find her on Instagram @camerakeepsrolling or email at etaylor@voiceofoc.org
