Irvine Central Library
Feasibility and Feedback
October 28, 2023. Vol. 1, Issue 7
“Libraries aren’t going away and cities are investing in them… Pretty magnificent libraries are being built around the world.” Steve Johnson
Since the 1980s I’ve been warned that “libraries are going away.” I’ve been told many times that librarians will not be needed. All information will be accessible digitally. Printed books and librarians will become extinct like horse carriages and dinosaurs. Time, however, is revealing something different. Libraries are transforming from quiet book collections into shared social spaces. Librarians and their communities are fueling the formation of knowledge and inspiring human connections in compelling new ways. These next generation libraries are “palaces for the people,” critical for a democratic society.* Libraries for books and social spaces for people are being built in cities and suburbs e.g. Tainan Public Library, Tainan, Taiwan; Deichman Bjørvika, Oslo, Norway, Marrickville Library and Pavilion, NSW, Australia. This is what’s happening in Irvine too, renowned for its innovation and highly educated workforce from around the world.
On Wednesday evening, Oct. 25, 2023, ~75 to 100 city residents gathered together at the Portola Springs Community Center, Irvine to give their input on a new Irvine Library at Orange County Great Park. Residents gave their feedback after a presentation by Steve Johnson, Johnson Favaro, an architecture firm based in Los Angeles.
Steve Johnson and Jim Favaro have been building libraries - public and academic - in Southern California for over three decades. Another of their current projects is UCLA Library. They are wrapping up the Discovery phase of the Feasibility Study for an Irvine Library at the Orange County Great Park. There remain only a few more meetings with groups like the Irvine Historical Museum. All are invited to the second Community Townhall on Nov. 16, 2023, Review and Discussion of Design Options at the Lakeview Senior Center. At this session Johnson Favaro will be showing the design options for the community to consider about the look, feel, character, program, size, fit with Great Park, and the Irvine community. Mark your calendars. Plan to attend.
There is still time to email feedback regarding the library, according to Chris Slama, Community Services Director. Please email: librariesfeedback@cityofirvine.org. It would be best to hear from interested community members within the next couple of weeks, so they can properly prepare for the November 16 Town Hall meeting. The goal at this point is to conduct a feasibility and concept development study. Public engagement is helping to determine the types of programming needs the community has, to help City determine an appropriate size/footprint for a potential new facility. The Oct 25 Thurs presentation has not yet been posted but should be any day now on the Great Park Framework Plan Project Updates page at Great Park Framework Plan (arcgis.com).
Here’s my insights and notes of the 10/25 presentation and community feedback. Enjoy!