San Francisco’s Presidio Branch Library is scheduled to reopen Saturday, and Mayor Ed Lee and other city officials are expected to attend for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration.
The branch closed in December 2009 while crews renovated an Italian Renaissance-style building that was originally constructed in 1921.
The project cost $4.1 million and was part of a $105.9 million bond measure passed by San Francisco voters in 2000 to renovate various branches and build new ones around the city.
The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library also is contributing about $500,000 toward the renovation to pay for furnishings and equipment not covered by the bond measure, library officials said.
The branch has updated collections of books, magazines and electronic items, a new designated teen area, new sidewalk installed 24-hour book return, new restrooms, and more computers for use by patrons.
The reopening celebration Saturday will begin with Chinese lion dancers, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony expected to include Lee, Supervisor Mark Farrell, City Librarian Luis Herrera, and other city and state officials.
The festivities start at 1 p.m. at the branch, located at 3150 Sacramento St., between Baker and Lyon streets, and library services will officially start at 2 p.m.
“The neighborhood will be thrilled to see this magnificent and historic library return to service,” Herrera said in a statement. “Now all residents of this neighborhood can enjoy modern library resources in a technologically updated branch that will serve its community for generations to come.”
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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