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KEY Assignment: What's Right In Santa Maria?

Written by Christina Heller

Story Created: Apr 27, 2009 at 3:54 PM PST

Story Updated: Apr 27, 2009 at 5:10 PM PST

Santa Maria, CA-- A town known for it's strawberries,broccoli and it's original recipe tri-tip barbecue, now comes a new building that may attract more people to the center of Santa Maria than have ever come to the area.

As we continue our series about "What's Right" in our local communities, Senior Reporter John Palminteri gives us a close up look at a very special addition to the City of Santa Maria.

It's the $30 million dollar Santa Maria Library. Inside are thousands of new books, a theater, a 250 seat meeting room, a cafe, and over 40 free computers for the public to use.

Librarian Jack Buchanan says, "to me this is where Santa Maria turned the corner from a blue collar town. It's more than that now. When people come into this library they tell me the first floor reminds them of a Borders Books, and the second floor, a University library."

The children's area is one of the most popular. About a third of the books are already checked out on a regular basis. An additional $100 thousand dollars has been spent on new books since the library opened in August.

The building was paid for in part through funds approved by the voters years ago in a State bond measure. The city of Santa Maria and local donars came up with the remainder and the project stayed on track at its site next to City Hall.

"Functionally, this building is close to perfect, " said Buchanan.

for more information contact:
http://www.ci.santa-maria.ca.us/210.html
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