台美人參與Castro Valley Library的設立及運作

by Mrs. Cossette Sun

Castro Valley Library: A Green Building

Modern libraries provide not only books, but also public access to the Internet, community gathering spaces, and educational opportunities for youth and adults alike. The Castro Valley Library provides all of this in a green facility that is U.S. Green Building Council LEED® Gold rated.

Castro Valley Library located at 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, is a branch of the Alameda County Library in California.  The grand opening of the new library, a state of the art facility is the result of two decades of community efforts was held on October 31, 2009.

My interest in the local public library began in 1989 while I was serving as a Council Member of Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council. The Castro Valley Master Plan called for formation of a committee to study library service’s needs.  The former Board of Supervisor Mary King appointed me as a member of the Castro Valley Library Advisory Committee. I was one of the original committee members who signed up on the project. For almost twenty years, the committee met at the old library on Redwood Road monthly. I was Law Library Director at the Alameda County Law Library.

It is important to note that Castro Valley Library is powered by the sun, as shown on the top. At one of the meetings. I asked the architect to use resource-conserving solar energy in the design, it coveted a LEED silver designation. The library saved money in Electric and Gas (PG & E) bills.

It has been a completely collaborative effort with State, County and County Library funding for the construction project resulting in a vibrant community center.

While the library is beautifully constructed, it lacks funding for the library furniture and computers. My next task was to lead the fund raising campaign. I was fortunate to raise over $60,000; thanks to Dr. Pam Tsai, President of Taiwanese American Federation of Northern California (TAFNC)-2011.   The library entrance (lobby) was sponsored by the Taiwanese Americans of Northern California. The Bay Area Taiwanese Americans who made donations were listed on the honor wall. Major donors were Cossette and Stanley Sun, River-Flow Foundation (Founder Dr. Lee Hawilin) and SKB Foundation.

The Taiwanese community has high visibility in the Castro Valley Library.  Beginning 2011, Fremont Taiwan School started Discover Taiwan program in Castro Valley Library.  With Discover Taiwan¸ Fremont Taiwan School aims to introduce Taiwanese culture to Bay Area’s youth through monthly presentations on traditions, arts, and delicacies. Each hour and a half long session will end with children taking home their handcrafted treasures as a reminder of each presentation, whether it is a paper folding project or a yummy treat. The regular program is presented in the Castro Valley Library’s Learning Center. The high school students are most enthusiastic in planning the programs, leading the discussion in the class. They are truly young ambassadors for people in Taiwan.

Some Facts about the NEW LIBRARY:

• Address:3600 Norbridge Avenue, located two blocks
  from BART.
• Cost: $22,276,464 ($13.9 million from State Bond)
• Architect: Noll and Tam, Berkeley, California

Discover Taiwan is supported by Dr. Lee Hua Lin whose River-Flow Foundation provided funding for ther ongoing program. Dr. Lee and I have attended the program regularly; and enjoy the Fremont Taiwan School students’ presentations.

This article is submitted by Cossette Sun, Director of Alameda County Law Library, Retired.