Video by Megan Perez

The County of Los Angeles Public Library hosted grand opening celebrations for two new libraries in Castaic and Stevenson Ranch on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

“To enhance the quality for our families in the Santa Clarita Valley, this $8.5 million investment will provide 23,000 total square feet of library space in Castaic and Stevenson Ranch,” said Mayor Michael D. Antonovich.

The 12,250-square-foot, $3 million expanded and fully renovated Castaic Library replaces the formerly 6,985-square-foot building. It features 20 computers with Internet access for public use; a Children’s Area with Family Place, with four early literacy computers for children ages two through eight (and an adjacent Family Restroom); a study room for teens and a separate study room for adults, both of which include a data projector with laptop connectivity and whiteboard walls; plus plenty of study tables and lounge seating to accommodate up to 72 library patrons. Library customers will find plenty of parking in addition to new bike racks – and the enlarged Castaic Library also houses new book collections for adults, teens and children.

Castaic Library also contains a meeting room – available for community use – with a state-of-the-art audiovisual system for presentations with remote touch panels, a separate touch panel for lighting controls and separate kitchen for food preparations. The meeting room has 78-person seating capacity.

Castaic Library is located at 27971 Sloan Canyon Rd., Castaic, CA 91384 and can be reached at (661) 257-7410.

“We are proud to introduce these two new libraries to the Santa Clarita Valley,” said County Librarian Margaret Donnellan Todd. “Both buildings are beautiful and spacious with the most modern amenities available – plus our library patrons get free Internet access and WiFi usage.”

The 11,551-square-foot, $5.5 million entirely new Stevenson Ranch Library is situated within the Valencia Market Place, where customers will find ample parking and bike rack space. Stevenson Ranch Library includes 18 computers with Internet access for public use; a Children’s Area with Family Place, with four early literacy computers for children ages two through eight (plus its own Family Restroom nearby); two study rooms for adults and a separate study room for teens, both featuring a top quality data projector for laptop connection and whiteboard walls; as well as enough study tables and lounge seating to accommodate 60 library patrons total. In addition, Stevenson Ranch Library has new book collections for children, teens and adults.

Like the expanded Castaic Library, the new Stevenson Ranch Library includes a meeting room – also open for community use – with a top notch audiovisual system for presentations and remote touch panels. It also comes with a kitchen counter for food preparations. The meeting room has a 92-person seating capacity.

“The two community meeting rooms symbolize the library’s transforming mission,” explained County Librarian Margaret Donnellan Todd. “By providing spaces for civic engagement and creativity – and by collaborating with organizations not traditionally associated with County Public Library – the department has begun a new chapter in its history, moving beyond books and truly helping create a sense of community. Customers are just as likely to see Covered CA health care sign-ups, a farmers’ market, or a town hall meeting at or directly outside of a library as they are to see a book fair.”

Stevenson Ranch Library is located at 25950 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381.

For more information on County of Los Angeles Public Library hours and services, visit www.colapublib.org.