RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA : New Facility Going Up in Town Center

In the center of one of Orange County’s newest master-planned residential developments, an addition to the county library system is taking shape.

Construction is underway on Rancho Santa Margarita’s 16,300-square-foot library in the development’s Town Center area, with a completion set for July 6.

The opening is scheduled for Sept. 1.

Under an agreement with the county government, the developer, Santa Margarita Co., is spending $4 million to build the facility and another $1.5 million to stock its shelves with books and other materials, said the company’s spokeswoman, Diane Gaynor.

When the library opens, its book collection is expected to exceed 81,000 volumes, she said. The library also is planned to have periodicals, nonfiction videocassettes, compact discs and books on tape.

But County Librarian John Adams said it is unknown whether county supervisors will allocate enough money next year to provide the six to eight staff members the library will need to operate at optimum levels.

“The issue of staffing will fall in the next fiscal year, and that’s something the supervisors will grapple with,” Adams said. “The simple truth of the matter is that we don’t know one way or another. Most of the funding will come after July 1.”

Whatever staffing the new library has, its resources will be needed immediately, Adams said. “The nearest library is the Mission Viejo branch, which is seriously overcrowded,” he said. “The relief that the opening of the Rancho Santa Margarita branch will provide should be very helpful.”

The design of the new building has been done in what architects call an “Early California Metropolitan” style. Its exterior will have an arched entryway and a patio around the perimeter with columns and trellises.

Inside, the main reading and study areas are configured in an open-floor plan accented by columns, archways and high ceilings. The magazine lounge will have a fireplace, as well as audio headset connections for listening to recorded materials.

The library will also have a children’s story area and a 1,000-square-foot meeting room that will be available for use by community groups.

Jan Wilson, Santa Margarita’s marketing vice president, said the company is looking forward to opening the facility.

“A public library is an integral and important part of every traditional hometown, both as an information center and a gathering place,” Wilson said.