AT LAST: Construction of the Platt library...

AT LAST: Construction of the Platt library is nearly complete, 27 years after city officials announced plans to add a second community library in Woodland Hills. The city bought land at Victory Boulevard and Platt Avenue in 1967, but failed bond measures and bickering among neighborhood groups stalled the project. The new branch is scheduled to open by February.

EAGER READERS: Anyone who questions the need for new facilities should know that West Valley residents rank among the city’s most voracious readers. Before the earthquake slowed business, the West Valley Regional Branch in Reseda circulated 100,000 books a year, second only to downtown’s massive Central Library.

FOR THE AGES: Of the Valley’s 17 city libraries, only one remains closed since the earthquake. The North Hollywood Regional Branch, above, suffered extensive damage and officials have proceeded cautiously with repairs. “We wanted the building’s historic integrity preserved,” said Fontayne Holmes, a city official. Engineers worked especially hard to save the building’s arches, which date back to 1929. The library is scheduled to reopen early next year.

GRANDFATHER: North Hollywood Regional seems young when compared to the San Fernando City Library, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Founded in 1914, the library has seen generations of changes. “We used to serve an older, Anglo nucleus,” said manager Judith Babka. “Now we have a lot of homeless who need a place to sit and be warm and read the paper. We also have an overwhelming Latino population, so we have Spanish-language books, magazines, everything.”

STRANGE TOMES: Other Valley libraries feature diverse collections. Surrounded by movie and television studios, the North Hollywood branch will offer a variety of entertainment, educational and instructional videotapes when it reopens. The West Valley Regional Branch, on the other hand, specializes in auto-repair manuals.