Staff Checks Out a New Library

It was a reunion and a private grand opening all rolled into one this week for staff members of the county’s Aliso Viejo Library.

Former librarians at the Mission Viejo branch, closed two months ago, laughed, hugged and then took in the cavernous, still-empty 25,000-square-foot building that is their new work home.

“It was great to see each other again,” said Cinda Combs, who worked 10 years at the Mission Viejo branch before it closed to make way for a city-run library. “We took a tour, and then the first truck rolled in and it was back to work.”

This week, the shelves were installed and books delivered for the 15-year-old community’s first library.

The Aliso Viejo staff, with 10 of 14 from the Mission Viejo branch, has until the official Jan. 31 opening to stack about 80,000 books and get things organized.

But they won’t be doing the job by themselves.

The community has about 100 volunteers signed up to help. Librarians from other county branches also are expected to pitch in.

“That’s one thing about the library system,” said Carin Sung, head librarian. “We can always count on help from our colleagues.”

Gary Frazier, who lives a few blocks from the library at 1 Journey, near Pacific Park Drive, watched it being built and counted the days until it opened.

On Friday, he was with the first group of volunteers helping to load books on shelves.

“I like being on the ground floor, then helping show others around,” said Frazier, who is retired.

“This library is going to mean a lot for our community.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can call the Aliso Viejo Library at (714) 360-1730.