Portola Branch- New Location!

A few weeks ago, the Portola Branch Library open in a new location:

Portola Branch Library at 380 Bacon St. at Goettingen

The 6,300-square-foot space occupies a site acquired from the San Francisco Unified School District on a corner of the Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School facility. The light and airy new branch features a new, view garden, an expanded children’s section that will be able to accommodate school visits, a designated teen space and a program room that will allow after-hours access for the community. The branch also includes new furniture and shelving, an expanded collection of books, CDs, DVDS and other materials, a prominent reading area, more computers, Wi-Fi access to the Internet and more functional staff work spaces.

A beautiful public art display of four handmade glass and metal shutters by Dana Zed will welcome patrons into the branch. Inspired by the many nurseries once located in the Portola neighborhood, Zed created a colorful set of 20 individual and unique glass panels depicting California’s indigenous wildflowers. The designs provide a translucent artwork that can be viewed from both the exterior and interior of the branch.

Architecture firm Stoner Meek/Noll & Tam designed the new branch library, drawing from a range of inspiration - the form of books themselves, open to the public, and the rhythm and scale of traditional San Francisco neighborhood bay windows. At the library entrance, the public is welcomed by an airy art-filled Periodical Room. The porch-like quality of this entry continues along the full southern edge of the building, with reading chairs in each of the bay windows. The Department of Public Works managed the project.

Portola is the ninth library project to be completed under the Branch Library Improvement Program, which is funded by a $105.9 million bond measure passed by voters in November 2000.

Click here for a map and the buildings hours.

A History of Library Services in Glen Park

The Glen Library has been located in various neighborhood locations for the past 81 years. Here is a time line of all of our site:

• 1927. The first location opened at 700 Bosworth
  


• 1964. The library moved to 2909 Diamond Street when Bosworth was widened. The library stood where BART's Diamond Street steps are now located
  


• 1969. The library then moved to 2842 Diamond, the current home of Gialina Pizzeria
  
  1969 Location -click photo for more info
  

• 1978. The library then moved to 653 Chenery Street. This was a very beloved location. The connection to the Tiez family and the coziness of the branch have made it had a special place in the hearts of many Glen Park residents. It is now the current home of Bird & Beckett Books
  


• 2007. Our first non-rented location at 2825 Diamond opened on October 13, 2007. Big, brighter and with a view.

I think I can safely say that the current location will probably be the last location for many, many years.