LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (LVCCLD) will celebrate the grand opening of its new library in East Las Vegas on April 25 at 10 a.m. The 41,051-square-foot facility, which is located at 2851 East Bonanza Road, includes innovative 21st century design elements, as well as free educational resources, materials, and programs, intended to facilitate limitless learning and personal achievement for library users of all ages.
The East Las Vegas Library is surrounded by 14 elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools, and an estimated 71 percent of residents living in the area are young parents with children. With this in mind, the East Las Vegas Library was designed to offer a variety of critical resources for this diverse community.
"In a highly increasing technological atmosphere, with what better thing can they learn than skills that they need for new jobs," says Ronald Heezen, Las Vegas Clark County Library District. "We want to make sure that every family has this place to come to discover their passion, to dream their dreams and not only dream those dreams, but turn them into reality."
To reflect the needs of the East Las Vegas community, the new library will include bilingual staff who are fully fluent in Spanish and English. About ten percent of the East Las Vegas Library collection is Spanish-language; nearly one-third of magazines and newspapers are available in Spanish; and bilingual resources in Spanish and English are available for children.
The library will house a materials collection of approximately 45,000 items, of which nearly 40 percent is dedicated to youth, including innovative STEAM offerings such as a Toy Lending Library. Kicking-off in fall 2019, thanks to the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation, the Teachers in Libraries program will offer free after-school tutoring.
As part of the new East Las Vegas Library's 21st century model, customers will have access to cutting-edge technology and collaborative spaces, which include:
- iPad Lending Program, a new service with 10 iPads available to check out and take home;
- Computer Center, with 32 computers and 20 laptops available for check out (see Fact Sheet for more details on free computer access);
- Tech Lab, featuring an audio/video production studio with an isolated recording booth, plus editing equipment and software, digital video cameras, and a green screen; plus industry-standard DJ equipment, where teens and adults can learn these skills;
- Teen Sphere, where teens can meet up, hang out, and participate in gaming, crafts, and other cool activities;
- Over 1,000 programs per year in early childhood and parenting education, media production, makerspace labs, and culinary and nutrition classes in our first-ever Demonstration Kitchen;
- Multipurpose Room, with 3,461-square-feet of dividable space, which is available for the public to rent, and;
- More places to gather, which include an art gallery, multi-generational living room, homework help center, children's storyroom and outdoor play area, print center, conference and collaboration rooms, and more.
In addition, the Adult Learning Center/One-Stop Career Center, will house the library's Community Adult Learning in Libraries (CALL) program, which offers classes in Adult Basic Education, English-language training, and Career Online High School. In the same space, the One-Stop Career Center will offer customers workforce training and readiness, financial aid, digital literacy, interview coaching, and employment searches to help move people into sustainable careers. The East Las Vegas Library also offers many free programs and eResources for creative, educational, and career development, available both in the branch and on the Library District website at LVCCLD.org [lvccld.org].
The new library is also features Café Con Leche, serving a variety of food and drink for library customers, with an exterior walk-up window where customers can order without having to enter the building. Another convenient exterior access point in the building is a drive-thru window, where customers can pick-up and return their books and materials from the comfort of their cars.
The modern, L-shaped East Las Vegas Library was built on an 8.5-acre parcel, located on East Bonanza Road, at the corner of 28th Street. The building features colorful canopies and tile at its entry, inviting glass walls, which flood the building with natural light; and an adjacent outdoor plaza for community gatherings, festivals, and activities. The library is also surrounded by lush, old growth Aleppo Pine trees, which classify it as an "urban forest." According to the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, an urban forest is defined as a collection of large trees within a city area, which helps improve air quality, serving as a filter for urban pollutants and fine particulates; and, improving physical and mental health by helping to decrease blood pressure and stress. The library was carefully positioned on a 5.63-acre section of the property to preserve as many of these trees as possible.
