For years, the reputation of the  city of West Hollywood as a leader in style and design has grown by leaps and bounds. Just this week, the American Planning Association (APA) listed WeHo's efforts to beautify their stretch of Santa Monica Blvd., as one of the top 10 'Great Streets for 2011.' Such recognition comes as no surprise. Since 1984, this city member of Los Angeles county, has always recognized the cultural importance of the arts, education and diversity. The crowning jewel of its pursuits is the October 1st dedication and grand opening of the new $64 million dollar West Hollywood Library. A warm autumn morning brings an estimated 1200 people to West Hollywood park. This urban oasis joins the library's North side while the tri-color architectural masterpiece known as the Pacific Design Center rises to the East. Taking in the expanse of today's festivities, guests are surrounded by  celebratory inflated tubes of yellow, orange and blue. Surprisingly effective despite my first impression that it was executed by Mummenschanz and enviromental artist Christo.

Before gathering on the lawn section of chairs, attendees mingled about the sidewalk areas where we feast on culinary treats from Epicurean Events. While I've attended more than my share of events, openings and social gatherings, I am quite impressed how the catering choices go beyond the familiar and offered mini servings of spinach & feta lasagna, macaroni & cheese, as well as white truffle & bacon muffins in small muffin cups. Other choices included specialty popcorns, hot dogs, cotton candy and what I consider an inspired beverage choice, peach lemonade. Exhibiting experience and wisdom, the assorted food and beverage booths are scattered about the park so as to reduce the density of crowds. 

Over my two year Hollywood residency I've discovered that, despite being a California native, I continue to be surprised by people's attire choices. Today's crowd run the fashion gamut from sandals, jeans and sleeveless t-shirts to dark suits and ties. And those are just the women. Despite the increasing heat on this 82 degree forecast day, there are people wearing hoodies and backpacks, sun dresses, white sportcoats and even a fake fur teddy bear hat with pom pom draw strings. As the dedication ceremony begins, novelist Jackie Collins talks about how the power of literature has always kept her focused on featuring people of all types in her work. She reveals how, before one of her novels went to press, a publishing executive mentioned that her novel had three Lesbian couples and could she cut one of them. Bewildered by the request she looked at him and simply said "no!"  WeHo Mayor John Duran speaks about the justified pride, all who helped bring this library to life, during such difficult financial times, should and do hold. He explains how visitors will continue to be moved by they words of F.Scott Fitzgerald, enter the world of Harry, Hermione and Ron, and long for a friendship with Anna Madrigal in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. He continues to detail how new relationship will develop and star-crossed lovers will gaze at each other across stacks of books and with a smile, begin new chapters in their lives. Speeches and recognitions continue with other WeHo officials, Los Angeles county politicians and best-selling author and WeHo Library Fund Board member, Christopher Rice who tells of how incredible as it was that money was found to build the Library, that his group has been able to pull in another $7 million to cover operating costs. In this economy, that says a lot about all the hard working and generous hearts who helped bring this civic treasure to reality. Although one of my favorite comments comes from WeHo City Council member John D'Amico who explains that just like the city of West Hollywood, it's new library "is a place where all minds and manners are welcome."

Among the elements that make this Library so special to vistors is not the fact that it's within walking distance of The Abbey, but that it has it's own parking structure. For Southern California residents, parking is what you do when turning off your engine and leaving your automobile, not when you are trying to get home on the 405 freeway. The multi-level facility is wrapped in colorful murals by three artists. One side features the yellow, black and orange image of an elephant with sun-bursting rose and dove by Shepard Fairey. An artist best known for his "Obey" iconography and the Hope poster for then presidential candidate Barack Obama. The south side of the parking structure hosts what looks to many, like a mixture of Roman numerals and hieroglyphics. This is artist Retna's (aka Marquis Lewis) stylized lettering version of a quote by Salman Rushdie. The north side offers a colorful, very graffiti inspired mural by Kenny Scharf. This seemingly gelatinous based image of melting and oozing faces of bugged eyes, balloon noses and jagged teeth are reminiscent of the gross bubble gum trading cards of the 60s. Once more, showing it's status as a trendsetter, these library murals are part of a featured article on the November issue of Vanity Fair. 

As part of the library complex, the first floor features new West Hollywood city council chambers whose entrance is flanked by additional Shepard Fairey work. The colorful images depicts a WPA influenced scenes of the WeHo cityscape and iconic imagery from the old route 66 of Santa Monica Blvd. to the famous Sunset Strip. On the two floors above we find the amazing multi-faceted world known as the West Hollywood Library. Beyond merely a four-walled space holding books, this is a multi-media center for the 21st century and beyond. Not just the pride of West Hollywood but the newest facility for the Los Angeles County Library system which can serve as a lighthouse toward it's future improvements. Under one roof we find the Stuart Feigin Computer & Technology Areas, Wells Fargo Carrer Development Center, the Ron Shipton HIV Information Center, Assistive Technology and large Print Collections and the beautiful wood wrapped Children's Theatre (pictured below.) The visual arts don't stop at the building's exterior as we soon climb the brightly skylight lite stairs, a white tree trunk and expanding branches jut out from the wall reaching to the rooftop. The ceiling itself is designed with interlocking curves and lines which successfully reduce noise. Floor to ceiling windows provide unframed landscape views of the surrounding hills with celebrity homes nestled among their flowing canyons.

One speaker mentioned how getting a library card is actually a right of passage for many. From the lonely child on a Kansas farm who longs for the arrival of the book mobile to the senior who can not afford a Kindle. A library card brings us to different worlds and times without the need for a passport or intrusive security check point. This new West Hollywood Library is the latest destination for the avid reader, the studious researcher and a guide to the imaginative writers of tomorrow.

On the web: http://www.colapublib.org/libs/whollywood/index.php