Murrieta's new Library opened to the public

By: NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | Saturday, March 17, 2007 9:33 PM PDT ∞

MURRIETA ---- The new Murrieta Public Library was opened with the slice of a ribbon ---- but it will be the individual opening of the 75,000 book volumes that will truly announce the facility's arrival.

"This library was built by you, for you. It was built for your children and your children's children," said Loretta McKinney, Murrieta Library director. "This is where doors to other worlds will be opened and history revealed. I encourage you to use this library, and use it often."

As the doors opened to the public for the first time, more than 300 people bottle-necked as they tried to get their first glimpse of the library. The new 24,000 square-foot facility is quite a change from the previous library, located on Los Alamos Road, which was only 4,000 square-feet.

The Murrieta Public Library provides more than double the space its book collection ---- from the previous 35,000 volumes to 75,000 volumes. The number of computers has grow from six to 42 computers.

In addition, patrons of the new library will be able to enjoy a community room with an 80 person capacity, as well as a grand piano donated by the Friends of the Murrieta Library, state-of-the-art teleconferencing capabilities, a conference room and three group study rooms.

Murrieta Finance Director Teri Ferro said the new library cost nearly $11.4 million, of which $6.4 million was provided in state funding and another $500,000 was gathered from local donors. The remaining $4.5 million will be paid by the city.

Bessie Condos, library facility coordinator of the California State Library, said there were 66 applicants requesting more than $547 million for state grants in the cycle in which Murrieta sought funds for its library. In the end, only 16 projects were selected for a total of $108 million funding ---- of which Murrieta was included.

"Today is a realization of a dream for this city," Condos said.

Murrieta Mayor Doug McAllister said the library opening was just one of many improvements that would come to fruition for the city.

"This is a year that is going to be remembered for quite some time," McAllister said. "But this one is particularly important, specifically because of all the folks that have been behind this effort."

Special recognition was given to Carol Kravagna and Dorothy "Dottie" Renon, who spearheaded the effort to establish the city library.

"We owe them a huge, huge debt of gratitude for all they have done," McKinney said.

A permanent plaque in their honor now hangs near the building's entrance.

"This library represents the very best of our United States government is all about," McKinney said to the crowd of nearly 300 people at the grand opening celebration. "I don't have to stand here and tell you the importance of a public library."

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.