The Student News Site of West Covina High School

WCHS Insight
The Student News Site of West Covina High School

WCHS Insight
The Student News Site of West Covina High School

WCHS Insight
Categories:

West Covina Library remains closed after 3 years of renovations

Carlee Macias • October 27, 2023
West Covina libraries signs on Pkwy also include a poster on the building stating “West Covina Library is Currently Closed” with servine hours and a recommendation to us in-person service at the Baldwin Park Library.
Carlee Macias
West Covina libraries signs on Pkwy also include a poster on the building stating “West Covina Library is Currently Closed” with servine hours and a recommendation to us in-person service at the Baldwin Park Library.

West Covina Library was originally founded in 1915 and has been located in the West Covina Civic Center since 1961. On Aug. 9, 2021 publication LA Senionetal published an article about how 30 out of the 85 libraries in the LA county area will be reopening for select in-person services on April 19, 2021. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was a rush of closures around the world in order to contain the virus and protect the health of people, while the West Covina Library was on the list of the 30 libraries to open on April 19th to this day it is still temporarily closed. 

Manager of the West Covina and Baldwin Park library, Wen Wen Zhang, stated that the library is closed due to renovations. Zhang explained that the library needed renovations in order for the library to maintain its beauty. Books have been stored in separate places to protect the books from construction. Wen Wen Zhang was unable to provide a reopening date; many are left to wonder why renovations are taking so long. 

One of the two signs on the building of the library lets the community know of closure. (Carlee Macias)

Advisor of The National English Honors Society (NEHS) and English teacher, Tonatzin Rodriguez, explained that while closed, library staff was able to do events for NEHS. The West Covina Library came to NEHS’s ‘Read Across America’ event, described the event, and brought books and other resources in support of the event. Rodriguez hopes that the library will try to open soon in order to get books out to the community.

A paper sign on the door of the entrance of the library stating closure is because of building maintenance. (Carlee Macias)

“It puts students at a disadvantage for having access to books,” said Rodriguez.

Libraries are known for holding collections of various books for people to read, research and more. Rodriguez shares that students do have limited access to books in the school’s library and that having a local library would help students in giving them resources and a free space for them. 

Located at 1601 W West Covina Pkwy, West Covina. CA 91790, the library still provides services in order to help its community. They provide bookdrops for any item returns, also provide sidewalk services, and have available phone hours. Some special services they provide for teens or children are online homework help.

The entrance to the library closed off by caution tape also including papers on entrance doors indicating closure. (Carlee )
View Story Comments
Print this Story
Tags:
More to Discover
More in News
Senior dancers Grace Torres, Milla Diaz, Jazlyn Wagner, and juniors Sofia Trujillo, Isabella Lara, and Charlyn Badoles in the final formation to perform Bo$$ by Fifth Harmony. Their performance was choreographed by ℅ 2023 Dub C alumni Kathy Castro.
The spectacular Winter Dance Showcases
“I really want to go to a D1 school… that's my motivation… this year made me realize even in some earlier races… I put in hard work…just going into races, my times are dropping,” said Osorio while she prepared by doing her warm-up routine before her race at the CIF state championship race in Woodward Park, Fresno.
Becky Osorio makes history in the schools cross-country team
The official HOBY website of the Hugh O’Brian Foundation which features many of the schools and alumni that have participated with the program in the past. Over 5,000 schools in and outside the United States have participated in the program with more than 8,500 students taking part every year.
How HOBY empowers leaders on campus
Students vote on ballots and receive “I Voted” stickers to make the voting experience more realistic. Hoang ordered 1,000 stickers in hopes that many would come out to vote. Ballots were later counted by Hoang’s 5th period government students.
Students make a show of democracy in the first school-wide mock election
Sophomore Divine Lane shares her thoughts on the pressures around drug use. Lane credits a part of her worries about drug use to the new and deadly drug, Fentanyl. Teenagers can risk their lives by not knowing if the substances they use are laced. “You now have to be a lot more careful about using drugs because everything is laced and that can always become a big thing. I personally don’t want to encounter that and risk my life for doing it, so I just think it's important to just be careful,” said Lane.
Students combat drug culture on campus
Seniors and an AVID class listen to a representative from VanGuard University providing information about their college and what they have to offer to students. Location-wise some of these schools are very far away… It's just for convenience…You're learning about a school that you might not be able to go to,” said Aguilar.
College rep visits continue