SANTA CLARITA : Group to Push New College Library

A support group has formed to help buy books and materials for a new library that will nearly quadruple the size of the existing facility at College of the Canyons.

The College of the Canyons Library Associates will hold a kickoff reception Thursday at the Piru Mansion, the historical home of Santa Clarita pioneer Ruth Newhall, to thank the 105 charter members who have paid from $25 to $250 to join.

“We’re hoping the group will grow enough over time to be a fund-raising source for the library,” said Jan Keller, the college’s associate dean of learning resources.

Keller said a public gallery and a fully automated catalogue and circulation system will be part of the new 27,222-square-foot library scheduled for construction in 1994. It should be a welcome relief for the existing facility, which barely has enough room to house the library’s 41,000 volumes and comfortably accommodate the college’s 6,400 students.

“There isn’t enough room for anything anymore,” Keller said.

Even though the library may not open its doors until 1996, charter members say they are jumping aboard now to show their support for the community college.

“You don’t have an overabundance of libraries up here in Santa Clarita anyway,” said John Hoskinson, a senior vice president of Gruber Systems Inc. in Valencia, who forked over $75 for a family membership. “COC has meant an awful lot to the community.”

Al Prieto, a retired Santa Clarita resident who tutors math and science students at the college, said he wants to “give something back in these trying times to help these students.”