A library... in a mall?

A library... in a mall?

That's what you'll find soon in Chula Vista, where the city's library system is setting up shop at Otay Ranch Town Center. Complete with free Wi-Fi, the 3,500-square-foot library will open Saturday, April 14, mall management said this week.

That means shoppers can browse new books, families can swing by the library for evening story time and patrons can pick up books they ordered online from other city libraries. The new branch library, which unites three vacant retail spaces, will feature free Wi-Fi that extends into the nearby Food Pavilion, said Betty Waznis, director of the Chula Vista Public Library.

This is the only full-service public library located in a regional shopping center in California, through a partnership between the city and the General Growth Properties-owned mall, which offered the space rent free. It could help boost traffic at the mall, about six miles east of Interstate 805. The city used to have a library in Eastlake High School, which attracted more than 100,000 people in 2010 even though it was only open a few hours a week and was hard to find.

The work was led by project architect Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning. “We are excited and proud to partner with the city of Chula Vista on this unique library concept,” said Tim Colby, senior general manager at Otay Ranch Town Center.

Library hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Through a cooperative effort with the Chula Vista Police Department, library cards will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Otay Ranch Police Storefront.

Information is available on the Otay Ranch Town Center Facebook page and at chulavistalibrary.com.

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