RENOVATION - RICHMOND/SENATOR MILTON MARKS BRANCH

The expansion of the branch permits enhanced and new services including a 20% increase in the size of the collections, with more teen, audiovisual, and Chinese and Russian materials. Seating capacity will remain approximately the same, with the addition of some comfortable lounge seating. Other features are two new study rooms, a glassed in Winter Garden, additional public restrooms, and a new teen area. The most recent plans are available at the branch.

To supplement the City's bond funds, the Library has applied for and will receive State Proposition 14 funding for the Richmond Branch Library. For more information, view the Richmond SFPL Awarded $9.7 Million.

There have been many community meetings to prioritize potential services and discuss design ideas. A community meeting was held at the branch on February 23, 2002 to begin the planning process for the renovation and expansion. Several preliminary design schemes were presented to the community and feedback was gathered. Also ideas on what to include in the library, including the types of services to include in the larger space and conceptual design were discussed. A design workshop was held on June 6 -9, 2002 at the branch and at the Star of the Sea School across the street. On August 15, 2002 a Peer Panel publicly reviewed the proposed design before the Library Commission. On August 29, 2002, a community meeting was held to discuss the replacement of the play structure and landscaping plans. Services and the preliminary interior layout of Richmond Branch were unveiled at a community meeting held at the branch on February 13, 2003. Most recently, on October 25, 2003 interior and exterior plans were shown to the community at a Town Hall Meeting held at the Richmond Recreation Center.

The Richmond Branch is one of seven branch San Francisco Carnegie buildings. Built in 1914 by designers Walter D. Bliss and William B. Faville, the branch was the first of the City's Carnegie buildings. All seven of the Carnegie buildings have been nominated as local landmarks by the San Francisco Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board; to date Chinatown and Mission have been granted landmark status. All seven are listed on the office of Historic Preservation's Historic Properties Directory.

For more information on the existing condition of the branch, please see the Facilities Survey - Richmond Branch.

The Richmond Branch is included in the Branch Library Improvement Program Arts Master Plan, developed by the Arts Commission and the San Francisco Public Library. After presentations by the artists and a public exhibition, the Richmond Branch Community Artist Selection Panel selected Scott Donahue. Scott is creating two sculptures measuring 50" across, formed as a shallow cast bronze dome on a concrete base. Small ceramic jewels that narrate the transportation modes of Bay Area immigrants throughout the centuries will be inset to the bronze. The sculptures will be placed in the landscaped area in the front of the building at hand height, compelling people to touch them.

The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library are raising funds from private donations for new furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the branch library. For information on the Richmond neighborhood campaign, contact marian.ctaylor@friendssfpl.org.