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San Diego City Council To Vote on New Library

Rendering of the proposed Downtown San Diego Central Library.
Rob Wellington Quigley - FAIA
Rendering of the proposed Downtown San Diego Central Library.
San Diego City Council To Vote on New Library
San Diego City Council will make what could be an historic decision Monday -- they'll vote on whether to go ahead with a new downtown library.

San Diego City Council will make what could be an historic decision Monday -- they'll vote on whether to go ahead with a new downtown library. Civic leaders have been talking about replacing the city’s central library for 30 years.

The current building is more then 50 years old. Library director Deborah Barrow says it's too small and isn’t able to serve the needs of the diverse community that has grown around it in the past five decades.

Barrow says now more then ever, San Diego is relying on its libraries.

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“In fiscal year 2009 San Diego public library reached its highest use ever in our 128 year history,” Barrows said.

The new library would cost $185 million and is a public-private venture. About $120 million would come from taxpayers, the other $60 million from private donations. So far, $30 million has been raised in the private sector.