Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library Reopens

Rossmoor and Los Alamitos residents tin yet acceptable ft wrong their section room aft astir 2 years of closed doors.

County officials, room unit and assemblage members gathered connected Monday successful solemnisation of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library reopening aft extended renovations. 

Residents hadn’t seen the wrong of their room since February 2023. 

Los Alamitos Council Member Tanya Doby, center, cuts the ribbon astatine the reopening ceremonial of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library connected Nov. 18, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

A costume performer dressed arsenic Clifford entertains children and guests astatine the reopening of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library connected Nov. 18, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

The Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) subdivision was expected to reopen precocious summertime 2024 but the task — which outgo implicit $3 million — experienced immoderate delays chiefly owed to the installation of a occurrence sprinkler system.

[Read: Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library to Reopen this Summer After a Year of Renovations]

“The occurrence sprinklers were a past infinitesimal summation that the region didn’t deliberation they possibly didn’t person to do,” said Mark Augustin, Superintendent with Vincor Construction Inc., who oversaw the project. “But past with each the upgrades, they insisted they upgrade a occurrence sprinkler system, due to the fact that determination was nary occurrence sprinkler system.”

The region library’s spokesperson wouldn’t talk straight to questions astir the occurrence sprinklers, but noted that the gathering did conscionable occurrence information standards.

“Regarding occurrence safety, the room met the information standards required by occurrence authorities, arsenic confirmed by yearly inspections anterior to the project,” said Dan Seranilla, Marketing and Communications Manager with OCPL. “While we recognize determination was immoderate cognition of an extended closure, we anticipation the assemblage is pleased with the task outcomes and the improvements made.”

Guests hold for programming to statesman astatine the expansive opening of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library connected Nov. 18, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

The sprinklers required caller structural supports to beryllium added to the building, which required 20-feet-long rafters to beryllium tucked into existing structures successful the ceiling, according to Augustin.

Outside of structural improvements, the subdivision received a Library of Things done a sustainability grant from the California State Library. 

The Library of Things is simply a postulation of gardening tools, cookware, sewing machines, Cricut machines, location ratio kits and different items disposable to cheque retired from OC Public Libraries branches.  

County Librarian Julie Quillman, left, stands adjacent to Los Alamitos Council Member Tanya Doby arsenic she addresses the assemblage astatine the expansive reopening of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library connected Nov. 18, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Los Alamitos-Rossmoor’s Library of Things includes children’s toys, room supplies and different items.

Uzma Husain, center, sits with her sons, Humza Ali and Mustafa Ali, wrong the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library aft the subdivision was reopened connected Nov. 18, 2024. The household checked retired a artifact Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

“I really homeschool my kids, truthful I americium astatine the room a lot, during the time and the evening,” said Uzma Husain, a Seal Beach nonmigratory that attended the reopening with her sons, Mustafa Ali and Humza Ali.

Husain and her sons were checking retired a artifact from the Library of Things collection, successful summation to committee games and books. 

 “I similar the programs they have, and it’s precise important to the nationalist that they connection resources similar this.” 

Residents research the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library during the reopening lawsuit connected Nov. 18, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Three different OCPL branches – Aliso Viejo, Stanton and Dana Point – are presently closed crossed the region owed to operation oregon renovations.

Books disposable astatine the Los Alamitos Rossmoor Library connected Nov. 18, 2024. The room reopened to the nationalist Nov. 18 pursuing implicit a twelvemonth of construction. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

The Rossmoor assemblage was established successful 1957 by Ross Cortese, who is besides known for processing Seal Beach’s Leisure World and different planned status communities crossed the United States.  

There are 3,500 homes, 4 schools, 2 parks and a buying halfway nestled wrong the unincorporated area.

The Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library successful 1967. The subdivision opened successful 1962. Credit: COURTESY OF OC PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Los Alamitos is simply a acold older community, with roots successful the Rancho epoch – the colonization of California successful the 1700s done the Portola expedition. 

The metropolis was chartered successful 1960 – decades aft it was established arsenic a township successful the late 1800s.

“Space has ever been an contented successful Los Alamitos. This room was dark, and this task helped to make an inviting abstraction packed with light,” said Los Alamitos Council Member Tanya Doby pursuing the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Libraries are assemblage spaces, and this room present looks and feels similar a assemblage space.”

The exterior of the Los Alamitos Rossmoor Library connected Nov. 18, 2024. The room is located astatine 12700 Montecito Rd., Seal Beach, CA 90740. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Erika Taylor is simply a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. You tin find her connected Instagram @camerakeepsrolling oregon email astatine etaylor@voiceofoc.org

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