Fearing Public Safety, SJC Shuts Down Library's La Sala

Fearing it isn’t structurally safe, the public meeting room at the San Juan Capistrano Library has been closed since September and isn’t likely to re-open until January.

That’s the report a city commission will hear tonight.

According to a staff report, a beam over the entrance foyer at La Sala Auditorium appeared to be sagging and “on the verge of failure.” The city’s public works staff quickly reviewed the situation and cordoned off the area.

Since then, the First Friday Night movies have been postponed, the Friends of the Library have had to move their meetings, and a church group and wedding party have been relocated, according to the report to the city's Parks, Recreationa and Senior Services Commission.

Another recent activity affected was the El Dia de Los Muertos , which was moved to the La Sala courtyard.

The city is currently putting out the bid for reconstruction and estimates completion for January.

Just this past summer, La Sala under went its first real facelift in 20 years. The library and adjacent meeting room was designed by world-reknown architech Michael Graves.