News Release

Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, City Librarian Luis Herrera and members of the community will open the doors to the newly restored West Portal Branch Library on Feb. 10. Lion dancers, performers from West Portal Elementary School, La Familia Peña-Govea musicians and the San Francisco Gu-Zheng Music Society will join in the celebration, which begins at 1 p.m.

Located at 190 Lenox Way, West Portal is the second branch to be renovated under the Branch Library Improvement Program, which is funded by a $105.9 million bond measure passed by voters in November 2000. This neighborhood gem closed on Dec. 19, 2004 to undergo a much-needed upgrade. The building is now seismically safe and fully accessible. A new elevator with an entrance on Ulloa Street will allow easy access for parents with children and people with disabilities. A new addition at the rear of the building includes the elevator, new public restrooms and staff work areas. Project costs totaled $4.6 million.

Building architects Thomas Hacker Architects Inc., of Portland, Ore. and Karin Payson Architects + Design of San Francisco took great care to preserve and restore the architectural beauty and historic character of the library. Inside the branch, ceiling stencils and woodwork were restored and lighting fixtures consistent with the building’s WPA-era style were installed. The project was managed by San Francisco’s Department of Public Works. “Stop by the West Portal Library when it opens. You’ll be able to see firsthand how beautiful a branch can be,” Elsbernd said.

The branch now has a designated teen area, as well as new and restored furniture and more computers. Patrons can also look forward to a new ground level after-hours book drop on Ulloa Street, improved landscaping and free WiFi access to the Internet.

“I learned to read at the West Portal Library,” Elsbernd said. “These improvements guarantee that the children of the future will have a place to learn and read.”

Friends of the San Francisco Public Library has been working in partnership with neighborhood residents, small business owners and community leaders over the past two years to raise funds, awareness and support for the branch improvements. The West Portal Library Campaign Committee has raised more than $150,000 to pay for furnishings, fixtures and equipment at the branch—expenses not covered by the bond.

Library programs continued even while the branch was closed. Special thanks to the Recreation and Park Department for hosting Preschool Storytimes and Lapsits at the West Portal Clubhouse, and to West Portal Elementary School for allowing the library to park the Bookmobile in front of the school.

For more information about the West Portal Branch Library’s opening celebration, please call (415) 557-4277, or visit www.sfpl.org.

We voted to renovate and build new branch libraries across the City.
It's happening!