The Sustainable Transportation Library

If you've been by the Hub, you may have noticed the shabby book shelf and the small, somewhat disorganized selection of books, magazines, videos, and leaflets related to transportaton. We're looking to improve the selection, the atmosphere, and the orgainization. But it won't be easy, so we're working on some grants. The following is a rough write up of our aspirations and goals for the library. If you have any ideas, or can lend a hand, contact us.

Click here and e-mail the Hub or call (831) 425-0665.

Draft Proposal

The Santa Cruz Hub for Sustainable Transportation's Transportation Library

Introduction

As Santa Cruz's resource center for human powered transportation and sustainable transportation options, many people come to the Hub seeking information and answers to questions about our local and global transportation infrastructure, culture, theories and designs. Currently, our in house library, while it does house back issues of many cycling magazines and a small assortment of good books, falls far short of serving as an effective reference for the multitude of questions we receive. We serve an active community that is hungry for information and inspiration. The library that we propose to build and house will provide the community with such a resource. In addition, it will provide a public space through which the community can become more informed about local issues and events.

Logistics

The Hub's transportation Library will contain a number of different media: books, magazines, maps, publications from local transportation projects, agendas from local transportation agencies, and videos. The content will cover the full spectrum of transportation issues focusing on bicycles (our favorite) and public transit, but not limited to those modes. History, culture, education, and art will be addressed as well as safety, mechanics, design, and theory. This will be a lending library with membership required and strict time limits set for check-out. There will be a one-time fee for Membership. Non-members will be allowed to use the library as a reference, without the ability to check books out. The library will be arranged with comfy chairs and plants for reading. There will also be a video player and television available for video screening.

Complimentary uses of the library space

The library space will also be available for public benefit community groups to hold meetings during scheduled hours. Groups will be able to secure the space free of charge (hopefully) through an application process administered by the Hub.

The grant will be for start-up costs and two years of operation-