WOODLAND HILLS : Pierce College’s Library Reopens

The damaged Pierce College library reopened this week amid a research crisis caused by the closure of most San Fernando Valley libraries after the earthquake.

Although book borrowing is limited to Pierce College students, the public is allowed to peruse the college’s 110,000 books and 400 periodicals inside the building and use the reference services, said Florence Robin, chair of the Library Department.

“We’re a relatively small library,” Robin said.

“But we’re important to the Valley, especially now that very few others are open.”

Because of earthquake damage, only four of the 16 Los Angeles Public Library branches in the Valley are open. Libraries at Cal State Northridge and Valley College also are closed.

The Pierce College library opened Wednesday morning, after crews of volunteers spent the weeks that followed the earthquake cleaning up, securing loose ceiling tiles and lights and restacking books, Robin said.

“It took a while just to get all the books back on the shelves,” Robin said. “It’s not like stacking cans of green beans in the grocery store. They have to be put back in order.”

Further repairs to the ceiling will be made during the summer break, said Cathy Cameron, dean of administrative services.

The library at Pierce is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, except on holiday weekends.

David May, chairman of the Valley College Library Department, said he hopes the library at that school will be open by late next week for the use of periodicals and reference books.

“We are just beginning the process of seismic reinforcing of our shelving,” May said. “It’s going to be a while before the library is fully open.”