Leo Johnson has been visiting Colonial Heights Library since he moved to Sacramento’s South Oak Park neighborhood four years ago. When the library was forced to close in late July because of a fire, he was told to visit Belle Cooledge Library roughly four miles away.
“It’s a different community,” he said. “While that’s not a bad thing, it’s nice to be in your own community where you can see the people that are a part of your community. It’s kind of sad to have to go to someone else’s community.”
Johnson said the closure was “a blow” because there aren’t “a lot of places where you can go and exist for free.”
Peter Coyl, president and CEO of the Sacramento Public Library, explained that although the fire was contained in one area, smoke caused significant damage to all materials, furniture, carpets, drywall and ceilings in public areas.
“It also damaged the HVAC system and the electrical systems, and a number of other key infrastructure components of the facility,” he said.
The library has removed all of its materials from the building and is working with an insurance company to “restore anything that [they] can.”
“It was a traumatic experience for the staff and the community members who were in the library when the fire occurred,” he stressed. “Luckily, no one was injured and the swift reaction from the staff to alert the fire department certainly limited the damage, and we're very grateful for that.”
Colonial Heights staff has since been assigned to work at other nearby locations to help with the influx of patrons coming from their library. Coyl said the renovation may take a year or longer but assured that the Sacramento Public Library system is doing its best to serve the community with the resources it has.
Gabby Miller, a spokesperson for the city, said Sacramento is currently working with its insurance company on estimates for the final repairs. The city expects to have these estimates within the next month.
“To date, the city has worked with a restoration company to address emergency repairs,” she stated in an email. “Once we have the cost estimate and it is approved by the insurance carrier and the city’s risk management team, staff will bring a report to City Council for approval. We will then be able to begin the rest of the restoration work.”
Until then, the library is encouraging people to branch out to some of its other nearby branches, like Southgate or Belle Cooledge, or to utilize its Bookmobile.
Bookmobile
The Sacramento Public Library Bookmobile Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, outside of the Colonial Heights Library in Sacramento.(Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio)
Thomas Murray has been working out of the Sacramento Public Library’s Bookmobile for the last year and a half. He highlighted the importance of continuing to provide resources and services Colonial Heights patrons previously relied on.
“We think it’s important to be here, let people know that we haven’t forgotten and that we understand how critical the [library] is to the community,” he said.
The Bookmobile started visiting the library location once every two weeks. Since the new year, Murray said the mobile library has established a schedule and is now there every Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.
In that time, Murray has seen how diverse the community is and how vast their needs are.
“We’ve had Spanish speakers checking out books in Spanish,” he said. “We had someone who needed to book a flight who didn’t have access to a computer so he came here. We had someone bring out packing slips that they wouldn’t have been able to get for free unless the library was here.”
During a recent trip to the Bookmobile outside of Colonial Heights Library, Galo Tobar explained why the library was crucial to him, his family and his community.
Galo Tobar picks up a book he requested Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in the Bookmobile.(Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio)
“For many people, they cannot go to a tennis club or a swimming club,” Tobar said in Spanish. “Then, the library becomes that center for your activity.”
The closest library to Tobar is Southgate, which he noted isn't easy to get to through public transportation.
“The bus doesn’t take you to that library,” he noted. “The next closest is McClatchy on 22nd and V, and that is also not as convenient as this one that is walking distance from my house.”
That’s why Tobar said the Bookmobile has been a welcome addition.
“The Bookmobile helps me because if I request a book or anything else, they’ll bring it here,” he added. “It’s only two days, but it helps.”
For more information on Sacramento Public Library’s mobile services, visit its website.
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