Dear Menlo Park City Council:
I am writing to encourage the City Council to prioritize the construction of a new library for the residents of Belle Haven.
Residents here have been requesting an improved facility for years. With a low-performing elementary school, this should be seen
as a “literacy emergency” so children do not fall behind grade level and thereby limit their future options and lose out on
developing a love of reading.
A new library would not just provide books and resources for children and adults but also serve as a vibrant community hub for
Belle Haven and one where meaningful, interesting and inspiring programming could take place. I’ve spent time at other libraries
on the Peninsula and there is some exciting multi-cultural programming going on at Bay Area libraries. For example, the events
coordinator at the Burlingame Library said this event was very popular: Bay Area artist Nigel Poor who helped launch Ear Hustle,
the podcast out of San Quentin that has had six million downloads; and the director of Evolutionary Blues, a movie about how blues
has evolved in Oakland, spoke at the Millbrae library. Stanford, of course, has outstanding authors and educators who could speak
here on issues of interest to the community.
I use the library on a weekly basis and have noticed more people using the library during the extended evening hours—which took
numerous meetings and letters to achieve. I would like to see hours extended on Thursday and Friday evenings as well so
individuals and families could use the library near the end of the week.
Also, I wrote to city officials almost a year ago requesting that there be a library sign that lights up at night--so people can
tell that the Belle Haven library is even open. Currently, it just looks like a building with a light on inside.
Finally, I’m excited to see that there is a new library director for Menlo Park, and am hopeful that library services will finally
be provided in Belle Haven on a level more equitable with the rest of Menlo Park.
Thank you for your service to the community.
Sincerely,
LJ Anderson
Carlton Ave
