'IT IS SPECTACULAR' COLLEGE'S NEW LIBRARY TO OPEN AT SEPT. 9 EVENT.

Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer

MOORPARK - Moorpark College will dedicate a new $13 million, 56,000-square-foot library and learning resources building in ceremonies on Sept. 9.

Located directly in front of the original college library, the new building offers spectacular views from nearly every window of the three-story structure, officials said.

``It's a beautifully designed building,'' said Clint Harper, a Moorpark City Council member and a Moorpark College physics professor. ``It gives a lot of additional space for computer labs and the library collection, and frees up the previous library for additional classroom space, which is desperately needed.''

Located on what used to be a lawn south of the old library, the new building has a view of the rest of the campus and of the city of Moorpark.

``It is spectacular, and architecturally pleasing, probably the most attractive building on the campus,'' Harper said.

Harper and other officials on the campus and in the city are talking about the possibility of housing the fossilized bones of a mammoth found this year at the construction site of a Moorpark housing project.

The bones are believed to be between 100,000 years and 1 million years old.

``We're still as a city talking about what to do with the mammoth,'' Harper said. ``The new building on campus would be an excellent space to display it if room could be found.''

The project was funded by the state of California Office of Construction through the California Community College Construction Act of 1980 and by Measure S, the Ventura County Community College District construction bond passed by Ventura County voters in 2002.

The fall semester started at Moorpark College on Aug. 15.

``We're very excited to be opening this new building which will continue Moorpark College's effort to provide state-of-the-art education to our students and our community. It's been nine years in the planning and the dreaming, and a team effort,'' said Victoria Bortolussi, dean of student learning.

The first floor houses a 200-station open access computer lab, instructional computer and distance learning labs, staff resources center and audio/visual and information technology departments.

The second floor is the main entrance level. It houses most of the 75,000-volume book and media collection, the reference desk and circulation counter, large and small group study rooms, reading lounge, library staff offices and an entrance to the outside south-facing terrace.

On the third floor are the Learning Center with large tutorial room, the modern language lab, the division dean's office and more reading lounge areas.

The construction team included architect Spencer/Hoskins Associates of Altadena, contractor Bernards Bros. Inc. of San Fernando, and project manager CM West Construction Management of Glendora.

Eric Leach, [phone]

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Librarian Faten Habib organizes books in the new library at Moorpark College, which opens with a Sept. 9 ceremony.

(2) Julio Andrino works in the open access lab in the new Moorpark College library, a $13 million, 56,000-square-foot facility with 75,000 books and other media.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer