By Isaac Ceja / The Opinion
For the past year, Miriam Pineda and her four younger sisters have had to drive more than 15 minutes to get to a library in the city of Paramount. Today, they only have to walk.
Following a renovation that began in February 2023, the Paramount Library’s grand reopening took place on July 17 where dozens of residents enjoyed the new features, accommodations and services.
“I think we’ve been coming here since we moved to town, probably about 10 years ago,” Pineda said. “Before they closed we were here almost every weekend, so it’s really nice to be back here.”
For Pineda and her family, the library serves as a place where they can go to read their favorite book series, get involved in programs, and relax during the summers when they are not in school.
The $4.8 million renovation modernized the library with two group rooms, a community meeting room with kitchen and, for the first time, windows that allow for improved natural lighting.
“When it comes to our public libraries, there are no shortcuts. Paramount families will now have the top-notch, state-of-the-art space for learning, growth and entertainment they deserve,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Other new features include: a vertical garden at the entrance, two self-service machines for borrowing books, tables for readers with power outlets and USB charging, new computers and more.
With the return of the library to Paramount, the community will be able to utilize the resources and programs that are needed now that there is a decline in reading skills in the United States.
According to the most recent 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report, the average reading score in both fourth and eighth grades decreased by 3 points compared to 2019.
The same NAEP report also found that eighth grade reading scores were the lowest they have been in any assessment year since 1998.
In a 2023 NPR report, Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, explained that test scores in reading and math have dropped too much due to the pandemic and other factors such as mental health affecting young people.
According to Paramount Mayor Annette C. Delgadillo, the library was established 111 years ago and is excited to provide modern resources to better serve the community.
“Our library has always been more than just a place to borrow books,” Mayor Delgadillo explained. “It is a sanctuary for knowledge and a center for learning and creativity.”
Paramount resident Cynthia Borrayo says the library hasn’t been renovated since she was a child and she’s excited for her daughters to have a modern library.
Even though they have their own computers thanks to the school, Borrayo says her family appreciates having a place where they can study quietly and find something new to read.
“The librarians here are amazing. They know everyone who comes, including each of my children,” Borrayo said. “It’s a small, intimate community and the library is just an amazing place to be.”
Ericka Alvarez, the regional youth services coordinator for Los Angeles County Libraries, says she’s glad the community has its library back.
Over the past 20 years that Alvarez has worked in the system, she has noticed a change in the people coming in.
“Before, people were just looking for a quiet place to read or browse books,” she explains. “Now there are more resources and programs like story times for kids, free tutoring and more that draw the community in.”
She adds that libraries are a community space where everyone is welcomed and no one is turned away.
Other cities with libraries that will be renovated include: Lynwood, Maywood, Huntington Park, Bell and Bell Gardens.