SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Ray Bradbury to Pay Anniversary Tribute

Like hundreds of other visitors to San Juan Capistrano every week, Brad Black came to tour the historic mission. But before he left, the city’s library had lured him inside.

“I pulled into the parking lot and thought to myself, ‘I know what that is: That’s Michael Graves’ building,’ ” said Black, an architect from Oklahoma City recently on vacation in the South County.

From the turrets to the intimate reading areas to the narrow, 30-foot-tall corridor that runs the length of the building, Graves’ architectural signature elicits a distinct reaction from visitors.

That’s part of what Graves promised back in the early 1980s, said Ken Friess, a former city councilman who helped select the design.

“He told us, ‘Look, you can have a building that will get a reaction from everybody,’ and it has,” Friess said. “People immediately loved it or hated it; there were few in-betweens.”

On Saturday, the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an open house and a party. Author Ray Bradbury, a frequent visitor, will deliver the anniversary tribute.

Throughout the 10 years, Graves’ promise has held true, according to city officials and library docents.

With its unusual Central American and Mediterranean influences, the library has always been controversial.

It began as far back as the final architectural selection process, when Graves’ $1.6-million design was chosen over 140 others, including those of finalists Robert Stern of New York and Charles Moore of Los Angeles.

“Some people still really dislike it,” said Friess, who was one of the Graves doubters from the start. “But I think everyone acknowledges it gets a lot of attention for us, and the city.”

Among the lovers of the Graves’ design is Mollie Burke of Dana Point, who has been a docent at the library since the day it opened.

She has led hundreds of tours of the property but has never tired of showing it off.

“It’s so much fun to take people through here, to watch the reactions,” said Burke, who is also active with the library support group.

“Some people come here kicking and screaming, but they end up telling me they are so happy they made the trip. They don’t leave here disappointed.”

Burke calls Graves’ design “friendly,” particularly its interior intimacy, which she finds especially appropriate for a library.

“There’s not a cold place in this building,” she said. “It’s important one is not intimidated walking in the door. You shouldn’t ever feel your lack of knowledge should keep you out.”

Visitor Black walked away from the library a believer.

“You have all these nice nooks to get off to,” he said. “I think I could find it very enjoyable to read here.”