HUNTINGTON BEACH : Neighbors Eager to Check Out Library

The shelves are filling up with 3,000 English- and Spanish-language books as workers prepare for the opening of Oak View Library, the city’s first new branch library in 30 years.

Salomon Flores, a senior at Ocean View High School who lives in the Oak View neighborhood and has been shelving the books, is among those eagerly awaiting the library opening.

“This is great to have this in our neighborhood,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing. It will help to keep children off the streets. They’ll have a place to read and study. And they’ll want to stay in school.”

Oak View, which will become the fifth library in the city’s system, will open next to Oak View Elementary School in the predominantly Latino neighborhood.

“This is the perfect location,” Library Services Director Ron Hayden said of the branch library. “These children need an opportunity to extend their education. It’s a good feeling to know that these young people are going to have a place to go to further their education.”

City library officials say the 1,800-square-foot branch has been in the planning stages since 1991. The library was built with $250,000 in federal grant money and more than $80,000 in cash and furniture donations, said Jan Halvorsen, library services manager.

Families in the Oak View neighborhood raised $800 to buy new books, she said. The largest cash donor was Rainbow Disposal Co. Inc., which gave $25,000 that will help pay the salary of a library assistant and other operating costs, Halvorsen said.

The library will offer a variety of services, including book checkouts, family literacy programs, adult English classes, story times, homework assistance, job referrals, social services information and individual computer instruction.

“It’s not just a library. It’s a community resource,” said Carolyn Healy, family literacy coordinator.

A grand opening will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing, a puppet show and other entertainment will be featured.

Halvorsen said volunteers are needed to help out at the library and to assist with the family literacy program. Library hours will be 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Information: (714) 375-5068.