Refurbished library opens

"I think it's a good place to study, I've been doing my homework here all week," said 10-year-old Ellen Vorsatz, sitting in one of the new desks behind a row of computers.

On Wednesday afternoon, the smell of new books was in the air as children from Lincoln and Roosevelt elementary schools sat on the leather sofas, soft rugs and expanded kids' section to listen to stories read by aides.

A fireplace in the main room sat waiting to be lit.

"I love it. It's warm, soft, cozy ... it's very homey," said Yana Maloney, standing next to her 8-year-old daughter who learned to read at Easton, she said.

"I live around the corner, and the people are so helpful," Maloney said.

Originally opened in 1927 as the North Burlingame Women's Club, the 2,800 square-foot Pueblo Mission-style building had faux beams and a small stage in the back of the room with a Swedish modern fireplace.

In 1942, it was renovated as a public library.

In 1978, Proposition 13 sought to close it and sell it for about $100,000.

A citizens' group stepped in and saved it, librarian Susan Reiterman said yesterday.

"What it's worth to the community now is priceless," she said.

The renovation in the last year was prompted by the leaks, wall corrosion and termites that again threatened to do it in. The entire rotting west wall was being held up by paint, Reiterman said.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Z. Marshall and Mr. and Mrs. Joan Lane and other private contributors gathered 90 percent of the $1.1 million to build the new facility.

The community's requests for more DVDs and computers, kids material and new fiction were answered.

It is equipped with six new Dell computers with high-speed Internet and a Wi-Fi connection - world's away from the single dial-up connection it had.

There are less bookshelves for the estimated 14,000 books, but more space on the original maple floors, patrons say, and the whole building is handicap accessible.

The library officially opened Oct. 2. The first children's reading group gathered Wednesday night and the librarians expect to bring in morning school groups next week.

On a tour, Reiterman indicated a framed napkin on the entrance wall signed by the original members of the women's club,

One of the signees is the grandmother of current Library Director Alfred Escoffier, who once shelved books at Easton.

Easton is open 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Stephen Baxter can be reached by e-mail at stephen@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.