Richmond Library Closes to Expand, Upgrade

The Richmond/Senator Milton Marks Branch Library, located at 351 Ninth Ave., closed to undergo a major renovation on March 18.

A party was held the day of the closing, featuring fun, food and entertainment. Construction on the library will add 4,000 square feet to the building's size and include seismic strengthening, accessibility improvements and energy-efficiency and technology upgrades. The branch's expansion will enhance services, including allowing for a 35 percent increase in the size of its inventory. There will be more teen, audiovisual and Chinese and Russian materials.

Other features of the renovation include two new study rooms, a large 10th Avenue lobby, additional public restrooms and a designated teen area.

Of all the library branches, the Richmond Branch will have the largest program room in the city, creating a new neighborhood venue for events similar to those held only at the Main Library.

The historic integrity of the 1914 Carnegie landmark will be maintained as the building is restored to its original grandeur. The project will cost about $13.7 million and is scheduled for completion in early 2009.

The Richmond Branch was one of two San Francisco branches to receive Prop. 14 state funding, totaling $5.9 million, for construction and furniture. The project is being designed by the SF Bureau of Architecture's Library Design Studio and is managed by the SF Department of Public Works.

The Richmond renovation is part of a major capital improvement project - the largest in San Francisco Public Library history - backed by voters who passed a $105.9 million bond measure in November 2000. The Branch Library Improvement Program includes plans to renovate 19 branches and replace four leased facilities with city-owned branches.

During Richmond branch renovation, library services will be provided by increasing hours at the nearby Anza and Presidio libraries; holding children's programs at the Richmond Police Station (461 Sixth Ave.); and offering Bookmobile service at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Geary Boulevard. Also, Richmond's Russian and Chinese collections will be temporarily relocated to the International Languages Collection in the lower level of the Presidio Branch, located at 3150 Sacramento St.

For more information on temporary library services during the Richmond Branch's closure, call (415) 355-5600. For more information about the Bookmobile, call (415) 557-4353.

- Sherri Eng