Book worms have until June 9 to enjoy the Morgan Hill Library
before it closes its doors for six weeks.
Morgan Hill – Book worms have until June 9 to enjoy the Morgan Hill Library before it closes its doors for six weeks.
The city’s 34-year-old Peak Avenue library, which is operated by the Santa Clara County Library system, is closing for good to allow staff members and volunteers time to move into its new 28,000-square-foot home next door, which opens July 21.
A festive “going away” party is being planned at the old 14,000-square-foot library and interim services will be established.
The Santa Clara County Library Bookmobile will be parked at the Morgan Hill Library from 10am to noon, 12:30 to 2:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday while the library is closed. The Bookmobile will offer a limited supply of books and DVDs for checkout but will not be able to hold books for patrons or provide Internet access.
Why will library close for six weeks?
“I get that question every day,” said Santa Clara County librarian Rosanne Macek, who works at the Morgan Hill branch. “Six weeks is a long time … but there’s just so much to move.”
The job includes boxing up and carting away 150,000 books, magazines, movies and other items. Additionally, all of the library’s computers need to be moved and re-installed. The staff also needs time to install a new phone system and an automated conveyor belt and laser scanner to check in and sort materials so librarians can get them back on the shelves quicker.
Macek said lugging equipment and books won’t be easy. To that end, library patrons are being asked to lend a hand by checking out as many books as possible between now and June 9. Extended due dates allow people to keep items they check out until July 31.
“The more they check out, the less we have to move,” Macek said.
The average circulation exceeded 46,000 items per month in 2006, she added, to give people a rough idea of how many items are checked out at once. She said the actual number is harder to pin down.
Under a pilot program resembling Netflix – the nation’s largest online DVD rental service – Morgan Hill Library patrons will be able to place items on hold to be mailed to them by using the library’s Web site santaclaracountylib.org. Librarians will evaluate the service to determine if it is feasible to offer it county-wide.
Sarah Flowers, deputy librarian for the county, said other libraries around the country contract with Netflix to provide hard-to-find DVD rentals to patrons.
“It’s something we’re aware of,” Flowers said. “We want to take a look at that kind of service.”
