TWO YEARS AFTER OPENING, the Woodcrest Community Library has become a pivotal part of the community and a favored gathering spot.

"People love the library," said Mark Smith, Library Administrator. "The library is one of our showcase facilities and people love to go there and visit. We have people that come there and spend all day. It’s very much fulfilled what we envisioned: a real community meeting place. It’s such a peaceful, inviting building to go in and sit down and be there. People have responded positively to it. The circulation has been fairly high as well."

The library at 16625 Krameria Ave. is more than 10,000 square feet and features a community room, a children’s area and 22 computers for public use. It is also equipped with WiFi.

The Woodcrest Community Library, which opened in November of 2007, was the county’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building. It is oriented to take advantage of sunlight and has large skylights to minimize electricity use. The library was built to blend in with area surroundings, has a water-wise garden, and is equipped with sensors that ensure lights go off in the bathrooms.

Library patrons enjoy the ambiance and how easy it is to check out books; materials in the Woodcrest Community Library now have radio frequency identification tags that allow patrons to check out books themselves.

The library is home to numerous programs. The Riverside County Library system received a grant from the California Council for the Humanities to participate in a program called “Making a Difference”. This program will bring authors into libraries to discuss their works and engage in community discussions. 

For more information about programs and services available at the library, please call 951.789.7324 or visit us on the web at www.riverside.lib.ca.us.

ARTICLE PHOTOS BY RYAN BECK