The bell will ring at 10 o’clock Saturday morning for the anxiously anticipated reopening of the Julian Dixon Library.

It has been dark for the past 13 months, operating from satellite locations.

Library-wide renovations valued at $2.5 million officially will be unveiled when County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas heads a large delegation of personalities decorating the ceremony.

This will be a second opening, actually.

The influential Friends of the Library group strolled through the vastly retooled library last evening from 5:30 to 7:30.

During their “private, first-look special preview,” Friends members were introduced to a bevy of upgrades.

“The renovated library has been upgraded from head to toe,” said Elaine Hirohama of Friends.

“There are solar energy panels on the roof and parking lot, LED interior lighting, new tables, chairs, table lamps, carpets, paint, flooring, furniture, and desks with electrical outlets.

“There is a larger children’s area, a new homework area for kids and a new teen study area.
Ms. Hirohama said.  “Three self- check stations, more than 30 new computers, and laptop computers for use by library card holders.”

Here is how large of a hand Supervisor Ridley-Thomas took in the renovation:

His office contributed $400,000 to the $2.5 million price tag.

The supervisor noted that the Culver City Library was established in 1915 at the Pacific Electric Railroad Depot. The library shifted to 4975 Overland Ave. 46 years ago, in 1970.

It was renamed the Julian Dixon Library in 2001, after the distinguished congressman who helped secure $3.8 billion for the construction of Metro’s Red Line.

The late Rep. Dixon’s other contributions included helping Culver City’s Clean Bus fleet became one of the greenest in the nation, providing emergency relief funds to affected businesses after civil unrest broke out in 1992, and repairing the Olympic-sized Plunge after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.