Kudos for library art displays

ENCINITAS — The National Association of Counties has named the Encinitas Library art program for a major achievement award. In the Arts and Historic Preservation category, the library’s art program received the Best in Category award. The nomination, “ A Collaboration for Community Art,” was a joint effort by the city of Encinitas with the county of San Diego.
Collaboration between the Encinitas branch of the San Diego County Library, and the city of Encinitas brings local visual artists into the library via juried, professionally mounted exhibits. The city’s Commission for the Arts, working through Arts Administrator Jim Gilliam, maintains two civic art galleries in the library — in the lobby and community room. The library also has more than 50 artworks on long-term loan by artists Roy Soravia, Alex Long and Rodney McCoubrey.
By establishing a Civic Art Program at the library, the gallery spaces in the library foster the concept of “library as community” and, along with cultural programming, is a major factor in the way the new library has been embraced by residents.
Branch Librarian Sandy Housley and Gilliam also work together to find opportunities for programming in the performing and literary arts. The library has three monthly concert series’, a readers’ theater, film festivals, poetry slams, dance and opera performances and arts education workshops for children and parents.