New Yuma library breaks ground

"This is the big one." Those words were murmured in anticipation Monday by the crowd gathered at 2951 S. 21st Drive. The land they were standing on was just an empty dirt lot near Yuma Catholic High School but, in a year's time, it will be the home of the new Yuma Main Library.

The library broke ground Monday with local politicians, library boosters and schoolchildren putting the first shovels into the ground. Now the real construction begins on the $28 million, 80,000-square-foot facility.

The main library is the centerpiece of the Yuma County Library District's $53.7 million bond passed by voters in 2005. It is funding not only the new main facility but building of and renovations to libraries across the county.

"I'm so thrilled about this and about all the libraries in Somerton, the Foothills, in San Luis and in Wellton," said Sharon Williams, president of the Friends of Yuma Libraries.

The new main library - which will be more than three times the size of the old one - will feature a new collection of books, an expanded children's area, teen space, more public and study rooms and more computer labs. It will have a drive-up book return so motorists can return their books without leaving their cars.

The old library, at 350 S. 3rd Ave., is being renovated into a secondary facility that will be called the Heritage Branch.

Jerry Otto's 4-year-old son, Bradley, was one of the children who lent a toy plastic shovel to Monday's groundbreaking. Bradley can't even read yet, but Otto said he's eager to introduce his son to the library.

"As soon as my son's a little older and can comprehend the words, I'm going to take him down there. So he's surrounded by it," Otto said.

Bradley has another year to learn to read well enough to enjoy the new library. It is slated for completion in the spring of 2009.

Oakland Construction is handling the building. VCBO Architecture was responsible for the design. Architects put great care into making the library a 21st-century facility, according to library officials.

Moshe Safdie, a world-renowned architect, has consulted for VCBO and some of his design ideas were incorporated into the project. Safdie has designed libraries in Salt Lake City and

Philadelphia, both of which have characteristics that will be used in the Yuma building.

Safdie attended the groundbreaking and spoke to guests at Cibola High School during the reception in the evening.

The projects are not cheap, but the Yuma County officials at the groundbreaking said they are pleased the voters chose to put their money up for these projects.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Ferguson admitted he was initially leery of the cost but, as the project progressed, he became a supporter.

Yuma County Library Director Susan Evans praised library organizers for their efforts in getting the bond passed and the public for putting its faith in the library.

"Thanks to the voters, who're making this dream a reality," Evans said.

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Sarah Reynolds can be reached at

sreynolds@yumasun.com or 539-6847.