A Day of Community and Shared Pride : Library reopening: The lively crowd from all areas of Los Angeles showed that people do care about the city and its future.

Sunday, Oct. 3, 1993, should be recorded in the history books as a defining moment for Los Angeles.

Few, if any, people had any idea ahead of time that the event taking place on that day would end up being so special.

But now it’s being called “magical” by those who were there.

I’m talking about the rededication and the reopening of our downtown Central Library.

The rededication ceremony and accompanying festivities had been planned for months. Everyone knew that the political figures would be there for speechmaking, along with the families and friends of library staff members and people from around the city who have traditionally supported libraries. Estimates were that between 20,000 and 25,000 citizens would be in attendance during the day.

No one was prepared for what actually happened. The lines started forming two hours before the doors opened. And by the time Mayor Riordan cut the ribbon, the blocked-off streets surrounding the building were packed with people. Estimates now are that more than 50,000 men, women and children traveled downtown on a warm Sunday afternoon to visit their Central Library on its opening day.

However, the attendance figures themselves, impressive as they are, aren’t the real story.

You almost had to be there to fully understand it. But I can tell you there was feeling in the air on Sunday that hasn’t been noticeable in our city for some time. It felt like it did back in ’84 during the Olympics: a feeling of excitement, of shared optimism, of community.

People of all races and ages and cultures coming together to celebrate something quite wonderful that belongs to us all. People were smiling and talking with others they happened to be next to; perfect strangers were comparing notes about which parts of the library they thought were most special. Volunteer docents were busy answering endless questions and giving directions--all the while beaming like proud new parents. Native Angelenos were telling anyone within earshot colorful stories about their past association with the library, while it was obvious that newcomers were already beginning to feel at home.

Everyone stood in awe beneath the beautifully restored rotunda, with its historic murals and original world-globe chandelier, and the magnificent new eight-story atrium, with sunlight steaming through its clear glass. The children’s library was packed with parents reading to their kids; the history and genealogy room was filled with people already doing research, and the international languages department was standing-room only, with people looking at books, audio and videotapes in more than 50 languages. Most exciting were the long lines of adults and children waiting patiently to get their brand-new, brightly colored library cards.

It was a truly wonderful day--one in which the people of Los Angeles, by their mere presence and by their numbers, said they do indeed care about their city and its future. They do care about making things better, through learning and knowledge and education.

There is a sense of community and shared pride that is very much alive and well in Los Angeles. All it needs to blossom is a little bit of nourishment--like the reopening of a grand old library.