Almost a year ago, the City Manager and Mayor approached closing downtown’s main branch library, opening a temporary location until a new library at an undisclosed location would be developed to replace it. The reasons behind closing the current library were that of an unmanageably leaking roof and potential structural failure during significant seismic events. Beyond those facility issues are deficiencies inherent in the bunker-like design that is unwelcoming to patrons young and old. The Civic Center’s moonscape design attracts only those without resort as Lincoln Park serves as a homeless encampment with the library serving as convenient restroom facilities.

Without a defined goal for a new facility, advocates feared limbo for the city’s expansive literary collection and resources. Their words as well as those of author Ray Bradbury reversed the city’s course; seeking instead short term solutions for those unsafe conditions while finding funds to maintain reasonable operations. Though the question remains, what if there was an ultimate solution for the current white elephant? What if there was a new library that instead of being a fortress was a temple of thought whose architecture and setting inspired minds to grow?

If properly located and designed, a new main library could become such an institution, like those in Vancouver, Phoenix and Seattle, attracting not only residents and local workers but visitors from outside the city. With Long Beach’s downtown waterfront location, it seems only fitting that the main library has a view of the water and a sense of its ocean air. But between the land reclamation that has created Shoreline Drive and the high-rises that flank Ocean Boulevard the Civic Center no longer provides such conditions.

The land taken from the sea and held in the public’s trust can hold the key to this perfect site for the main library. At the southwest end of Marina Green across from Shoreline Village provides an ideal setting for the new main branch library. From this location, it can serve as an eastern anchor to the Aquarium of the Pacific with the waterfront Esplanade and its restaurants and shops providing constant pedestrian activity while the library itself would activate the typically underused Marina Green and Rainbow Lagoon.

I had touched on the difficulties of developing the Tidelands Area of downtown and the necessity to establish a concerted development strategy because of those land-use limitations. California Coastal regulations restrict the types of commercial uses and do not allow any residential development in order to retain public accessibility and host recreational uses. Within this agenda a library would be considered ideal.

Take a moment to paint a vision of this new waterfront library; the entrance on the street level with a grand lobby opening to a large, naturally lit atrium. The ground floor would consist of the front desk, administrative functions and auditorium facilities. The bulk of the library’s collection makes up the second floor while popular books, periodicals and reading rooms make up the third floor. The third floor would provide tremendous views of the Pacific Ocean from an expansive reading terrace fitted with a café and free wireless, making it one of the most desirable locations in Long Beach to read a book, do homework or meet a friend.

The site is well located for cross-town and regional connections from Alamitos Avenue, Ocean Boulevard and the I-710 Freeway. It is adjacent to the beach and Los Angeles River bike paths and is linked to the rest of the downtown via the free Passport Shuttle. As part of the developing any new facility there, pedestrian improvements must be made along Shoreline Drive and through the Performing Arts Center to better connect walkers to the downtown proper.

This waterfront main library could be one of the defining features of Long Beach, surpassing the Queen Mary, MoLAA and Belmont Pier as a must-visit destination. It can bring a level of civic pride currently lacking as the physical center of government remains an urban design wasteland. With its new location, architecture and character, this new library would properly reflect the place that learning should have in a community; without barrier, while providing the public one of the best views Long Beach has to offer.

This concept was created in collaboration with my colleagues Michael Bohn and Lameese Elqura.

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