OPENING A NEW CHAPTER : T.O. LIBRARY TO RETURN HOME EAGER PATRONS AWAIT REOPENING.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

Under normal circumstances, Shirley Sourial goes to the library about once a week to borrow the books she loves to read.

But that timetable has been tougher to keep during the year and a half that the Thousand Oaks Library's main branch has operated out of the old City Hall on Willow Lane - an inconvenient trip for the avid reader.

``I find I go less frequently because it's an out-of-the-way spot,'' said Sourial, a 25-year resident of Thousand Oaks.

That's why she's looking forward to Monday, when the beloved main branch reopens after undergoing earthquake and roof repairs - repairs that library officials promise will make the facility a brighter, better and safer place.

For Sourial, the location is particularly convenient - it's not only next door to the Goebel Adult Senior Center, where she is meal site coordinator, it's also far closer than the Willow Lane site was to the stores and other places she goes.

``It's more centrally located here,'' she said.

Library officials have been busy stocking bookshelves, connecting computers, arranging furniture and organizing paperwork in time for the long-awaited reopening of the 14-year-old library, which had been plagued with a chronically leaky roof since its 1982 opening.

Adding to its woes, the ceiling caved in during the Northridge Earthquake. Metal strips that covered the ceiling fell down, pulling down fire sprinklers and soaking books, carpeting and furniture.

Though the library reopened briefly after the earthquake, it was shut down again and the holdings were moved to Willow Lane to expedite the repairs.

In September of 1995, repairs were suspended after tests confirmed the presence of molds linked with the water damage, possibly posing a health hazard for library workers.

The mold was removed, repairs continued, and now they're done. Those woes should be a thing of the past, said Steve Brogden, deputy director of the library.

``I think it's looking really good,'' Brogden said. ``There are some things that cosmetically won't be ready, but overall the building is sound and people will be delighted with what they see.''

The library has long been identified with its Janss Road location and now it's coming home to its rightful place, Mayor Andrew Fox said. And it will likely stay there, barring some unforeseen calamity.

``I think there's a sense of permanency that's going to come back, a sense of confidence that the city has made the repairs,'' Fox said.

``And we're confident that the library, barring another natural disaster like an earthquake, will not have any more problems,'' he added.

Juanita Wilson said she can hardly wait for the library's reopening. Like Sourial, the 69-year-old found the Willow Lane site too inconvenient for easy access.

Anne Belin, a volunteer at the Senior Center, is also eager to see how the repaired facility will look. ``It'll probably look much nicer,'' said Belin, 75.

And for Kathy Seay, who works in the Senior Center's kitchen, the library is close to work. ``Now that it's coming back here I'm going right after work,'' she said.

The library doors open Monday at 10 a.m. However, the new Friday hours recently approved by the City Council take effect Jan. 10.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

Photo: (1--color) A worker fixes the sidewalk at the Thousand Oaks Library's main branch for its reopening after repairs that took a year and half.

(2--ran in CONEJO only--color) Volunteers Pat Griffin, front, and Sandy Keylon help stock books in the library.

(3) Shalane Valladares, a senior library assistant, works on a computer at the circulation desk to get ready for Monday's reopening.

(4--ran in SIMI only) Zohreh Sadr, below, stocks books on shelves at the library for its repoening Monday.

Tina Gerson/Daily News