Dixon Library re-opens after renovation

After being closed for more than a year for renovations, the Culver City Julian Dixon Library is set for its grand re-opening Feb. 20 at 10 a.m.

To commemorate the opening of the newly remodeled library, refreshments, children’s activities, and an Open House are scheduled as a way to welcome the community back to a place they haven’t been able to visit since January 2015 when the library closed for renovations.

The renovated library was a result of a joint effort between Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the County of Los Angeles Public Library, and the Culver City Friends of the Library.

Renovations, which were completed earlier this month, cost $2.5 million, which includes a $210,000 donation from the Culver City Friends of the Library.

Roxane Marquez, special assistant for the County of Los Angeles Public Library, said she expects anywhere between 40 and 50 people to attend Saturday’s grand re-opening event.

Los Angeles-based architectural firm RAW International, which specializes in providing energy-efficient and sustainable facilities, performed the renovations to the 21,406 square foot space.

Some of the general improvements to the library include 38 new computers; two iPad catalogues at the end of the aisles for quick access to collections; large digital signage to promote library events and services; new furniture including new reader chairs, computer chairs, lounge chairs, and meeting room chairs; and a new security system. A community meeting room kitchenette as well as data infrastructure cabling and landscaping are other improvements.

In keeping with their goal of making their renovations energy efficient, RAW International upgraded the interior and exterior lighting to LED technology; installed a new interior lighting management system with automatic daylight controls, multi-level lighting, and occupancy sensors; upgraded the mechanical cooling system with automated building controls; installed high efficiency windows to reduce air leakage; and replaced 95 percent of the suspended ceiling for acoustics to improve energy consumption.

Marquez said the library features photo voltaic solar panels that will produce 192,950 kilowatt hours per year which is enough power to offset the annual energy usage of the renovated library, saving the County $27,013 per year.

The solar panels are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 137 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, which is the same as removing 28 cars from the road.

In addition to the larger renovations, some smaller changes will also be featured such as free Wi-Fi and a household battery recycling site.

Other additions include the collections which will feature books for both children and adults in Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Yiddish.

To address the library’s role as an extension of school, a children and family area has been created in the library. A homework center with live homework help was also created for students.

The Julian Dixon Library began life as the Culver City Library, which was established in 1915 in the Pacific Electric Railroad Depot. Over the years, the library moved to several locations as it grew larger in size until it came to rest at its present location at 4975 Overland Avenue, where its been since 1970.

The library was renamed the Culver City Julian Dixon Library by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in honor of U.S. Congressman Julian Dixon who represented the 32nd U.S. Congressional District from 1979 to 1993.

Dixon spent many years in office working closely with various educational institutions and libraries in an effort to have a positive impact on children.

For more information on the Culver City Julian Dixon Library opening or to RSVP to the event, please email Roxane Marquez at marquez@library.lacounty.gov