Aptos Library: Long Awaited and Loved

By Jondi Gumz

Hundreds of people showed up to see the new Aptos Branch Library — our first in 48 years — at the grand opening Sunday, Feb. 4, despite a county call for people to stay off the roads due to rainstorms and Santa Cruz Public Libraries staff cancelling the magician, musicians and guest speakers for the event.

When library staffers saw people gathered outside, they opened  the doors to let them in – young and old, people in wheelchairs, moms with kids in strollers, families, teens.

There was room for all.

Some bought a book from Friends of Aptos Library in the lobby; others checked out books to take home.

Kids stacked up books on the comfy sofa in the children’s area. Older people read books and magazines and eyed the exhibits by the Aptos History Museum.

Adults looked up the offerings — 23,000 newly purchased books — in the online card catalog.

Cookies were provided by local treat-maker Pacific Cookie Co.  and no one missed the “entertainment.”

Library patrons did have something to say about the parking lot: Many spaces were filled by wide-bodied SUVs, leaving very little room to get out of your car — if you parked next to one.

You’d have to be Jack Sprat, from the nursey rhyme, to get out without dinging your neighbor.

The sale of SUVs has soared since 2015 overtaking sedans, a trend no one predicted when the public backed library project in 2016.

With space at a premium, some people parked in the street.

Eric Howard, the interim library director, said if it were up to him, he would re-stripe the parking lot. The decision is up to the Santa Cruz County supervisors.

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Photos Credit: Jondi Gumz