At slightly more than 2,000 square feet, the Villa Park Library’s intimate space seems to be just the right size for the library’s regulars, and thanks to a recent makeover, the patrons are enjoying it even more.
Friends of the Villa Park Library raised $20,000 to complete a recent renovation of the library, which is adjacent to City Hall, tucked away in a strip mall on Santiago Boulevard.
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A new computer area is part of the Villa Park Library’s makeover. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)
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As part of a recent makeover to the Villa Park Library, a closed-circuit TV was installed to announce the library’s events and programs. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)
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A new children’s space was created at the Villa Park Library by adding curved book shelves to separate the space from the rest of the library. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)
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Friends of the Villa Park Library raised $20,000, which was used to upgrade the library, which is adjacent to City Hall in a strip mall on Santiago Boulevard. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)
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As part of a $20,000 make over to the Villa Park Library, shelves were added to create a designated children’s area. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)
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Two sets of small tables and chairs were added to the center space in the Villa Park Library. It is designed to be an area for conversation. The new furniture is part of the library’s recent makeover. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)
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Children use the new designated children’s area of the Villa Park Library. (Courtesy of Lou Ponsi)
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Perhaps the most notable upgrade is the addition of a designated children’s area, which is sectioned off from the rest of library by two curved book cases – just the right size for kids to reach for their favoritereads.
“I love when kids have a great space and this is a great space,” said Wilynda Leonard, whose five children, ages 9 to 18, use the library to do homework. “Kids know how to come to it. They know tocome right here.”
For Leonard’s 9-year old son, Zechariah, the coziness of the new children’s area is perfect.
“In other big libraries, the books are far away,” Zechariah said. “If you go to the kids section right here, you can just go get your book and walk back.”
Elsewhere, Chairs circling a pair of small, two-foot high round tables are positioned in the middle of the room to create a new conversation area.
A charging station for laptops and USB ports has been added along with a closed-circuit television above the checkout desk – it serves as a bulletin board announcing the library’s events and programs.
Zechariah’s brother, Gabriel, a junior at Orange Lutheran High School, walks to the library after school and does his homework.
“I like it because it’s really quiet,” he said. “It’s smaller than other libraries so it’s more comfortable.”
The library is part of the county’s OC Public Libraries division and is the only public library in the city.
“People like the way the upgrade looks,” said Arlyn Bottomley, whose been at the Villa Park branch for a year. “They always say, ‘You put more room in here,” but we didn’t. It’s the same amount of space wehad. That is what (administrators) wanted … to de-clutter and make more open space and make it more welcoming.”