Library ribbon cut tomorrow

BY Dawn Rankins

The Canyon Lake community has been without a library for 18 months. First the pandemic shut it down and then a closure as a new space was being converted into a new library in the Canyon Lake Town Center. Finally, the Canyon Lake Library lives. An official ribbon cutting ceremony will officially open the library tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:00 a.m.

The new library is located in the prior home of the John Giardinelli Law Offices located in the corner of the Town Center on the opposite side from its previous home in City Hall. The address is 31594 Railroad Canyon Road.

Branch Manager Amanda McLaughlin is eager to bring the community back into her library and hopes many will attend tomorrow and see first hand all of the new amenities in the library’s remodeled home. All of the library’s staff will be at the grand opening to answer questions and introduce the various features of the library.

Canyon Lake Library Branch Manager Amanda McLaughlin busy at work.

“Our team is ready to go above and beyond for our visitors,” Amanda said. “Canyon Lake deserves this library and it’s something that the residents can be excited about and be proud of.”

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, there will be refreshments served to those in attendance.

A prize wheel for kids 12 and under will be used to give away goody bags for as long as they last.

The regular library hours will be Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Amanda said the library reminds her of the college’s student union. It’s friendly, fun and modern.

View of the new library’s study chairs, equipped with USB and power plug.

“I’m doing what I love, and I can’t imagine a better place to work than here in the Canyon Lake Branch,” Amanda said. “I am excited to see the expression on the faces of the many Canyon Lake residents who will be visiting the beautiful new library and all it has to offer.”

The new library has a meeting room, which the public can reserve, depending on availability, for up to two hours at a time. The library also now has a new braille section, which is now mostly for sight-impaired children, but does offer some adult references.

A literacy center for children is part of the library as are six study chairs each equipped with a USB outlet and a power plug. There is a TV screen in the library which will display programs and other information pertaining to the library. A chip reader is available at the front desk to make paying any fines or fees a little easier.

The library will begin to see about 50 percent new books with the refresher program which will start with the children’s section and should be completed by September, Amanda said.

Children’s section of new library.

When patrons walk into the library they will be greeted by library staff at the front desk. As they continue into the library there are a couple of tables and chairs that can be used for work in a quiet setting with access to hundreds of books. There are 10 computer stations that are free for patrons to use for up to two hours, depending on availability.

As with the previous library, there will be children’s programs offered throughout the month, such as a summer reading program next year and an In-N-Out reward reading program. Children who read five books earn a free In-N-Out hamburger.

The library is also hoping to host movie days twice a month in the winter and host board game days, Amanda said.

The first week of September is Banned Book Week. Controversial books that have been historically challenged throughout the world will be celebrated. Free bookmarks will be handed out at the event. Trivia of various titles of books that are or have been controversial will be on the menu for that week as well.

Photos by Dawn Rankins

The library will be participating in a library card sign up month in September. During the month everyone is welcome to stop by and learn about the library and obtain a library card.

Wednesdays are Story Time With Ginny. Ms. Ginny (Furnish) reads to children from ages one to six starting at 10:30 a.m.

The library will be starting an adult book club soon. Kids play days are coming that will include STEM, which is based on science, technology, engineering and math.

The library is currently accepting applications for volunteers. Anyone interested, including those who have served at the library as volunteers before, needs to fill out an application.

For those wishing to make book donations to the library, they’ll need to wait until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Amanda said. She is eager to begin accepting them again.

7 year old Kathryn Drury can’t decide among the many books which to read first.

One young Canyon Lake child is already in possession of an official library card. Seven-year-old Kathryn Drury was so excited about the new library she obtained her very first official library card and couldn’t be more excited.

“I love to read,” Kathryn said. “When you read, you can go to a different world and you can even travel to the future.”

The family’s love for reading has been passed down through the generations. Mom Stephanie Drury said that Kathryn has the same passion for reading that she did. Stephanie said her grandfather instilled in her the love of books, and she is passing that same passion for books and reading down to her children. She said they’ll all be visiting the new and improved Canyon Lake Library on a regular basis.

Kathryn Drury, 7, reads a book in the new Canyon Lake Library during its “soft” open. The new library will have a ribbon cutting tomorrow morning to officially open to the public.