The Scripps Ranch Friends of the Library (SRFOL) exists to support the operation of the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center. The SRFOL, through volunteer services, assists library patrons, hosts special events, operates a used book store (Grace's Book Nook), and provides financial support for acquisitions and community activities.

The SRFOL is an officially chartered, §501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization. As such, donations made to the SRFOL are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law under Internal Revenue Service tax regulations.

Please feel free to explore this web site to learn about the services provided by the SRFOL and by the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center itself.

In accordance with City of San Diego budgetary constraints, 20 branches of the San Diego Public Library system, including the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center, will be closed on all Mondays starting September 15, 2025, and continuing into the indefinite future.

For library patrons in urgent need of library services on Mondays, the following 17 branches of the San Diego Public Library system will be open for patron needs on Mondays:

Since the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center will be closed on all Mondays starting September 15, 2025, Grace's Book Nook has a changed schedule to match. Book Nook hours (effective 9/15/2025) are:

Starting September 15, 2025, and continuing into the indefinite future, the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center will be closed on all Mondays. This closure affects not just library services but all programs, events, and activities previously scheduled to happen on Mondays. The closure is a result of City of San Diego budgetary constraints. Accordingly, starting September 15, 2025, except for City of San Diego holidays, the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library is open to the public during the following hours:

• Library Staff Changes: There has been a major turnover of staff at the Scripps Ranch Library—and many other San Diego Public Library branches—concurrent with the loss of Monday library hours. Our branch manager, Phil Gunderson, has returned to the Central Library and the Scripps Ranch Library's new branch manager is Zeina Guion. Also, our library's Youth Services Librarian, Melissa Barbour, who organized and provided children's programs for the Scripps Ranch community for over seven years is gone, with no current replacement. It is currently unknown of the full extent to which children's and teens programs will be affected. More than 75% of the remaining library staff has been turned over to replacement staff members.
  
  
• Pleasure of Your Company Concerts for 2025-2026: All concerts are concluded or canceled for the remainder of 2025 until the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center reopens in the late Spring or early Summer of 2026 or possibly even the Fall of 2026.
  
  
• The Entire Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center: We have been informed that the entire library is scheduled to be closed for 8 to 10 months—possibly longer— for the purpose of replacing the library's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and for replacing the entire roof of the library. The previously announced starting date for the closure (August 2025) has been changed. The City has provided a revised closure starting date of December 2025 or January 2026. We will attempt to provide additional details at least one month in advance of the actual closure contingent upon our receiving word from San Diego Public Library administration. Also, please be aware that a measure of date uncertainty is typical of major renovation projects, and is especially typical of renovation projects performed on City property. Patrons should note that the library will be completely closed to all access and services while the replacement work is being performed. We have been told that no library material (books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, equipment, etc) will be removed from the library prior to its closure—nor will any library material be permitted to be delivered to or removed from the library during its closure. As we gain more detailed information regarding this closure, we will update this notice.
  
  
• Parking Lot Expansion Project: As library patrons will attest, little to no work has been done on the library's parking lot expansion project for close to a year. The City has stated that work on the parking lot will resume in October 2025; but, of course, this is the same City which stated the lot expansion would be finished a year ago. The City now tells us that the expanded lot—minus the previously-promised traffic light at the parking lot's entrance/exit— will be completed when the library reopens when the HVAC/roof replacement project completes, which could be as late as December 2026.
  
  

While parking at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library continues to be a challenge, there is now finally some progress to report! However, there is bad news as well as good . . .

We had been informed that work on the parking lot expansion project was expected to resume in the spring (2025). It wasn't. The contractor is currently working with the City to obtain permit approval for a large retaining wall that is planned, as the enlarged lower lot will expand into the adjacent canyon. During that down time, there are other active projects that will make use of this window of time while the library parking expansion is on hold.

The $2.1 million Miramar Gate valve replacement has been underway for many months, which is the explanation for the cessation of parking lot work beginning last spring. Interestingly, an outlet valve for the nearby Lake Miramar reservoir is located in our library's parking lot (who knew?), and a new valve that meets current standards—as well as a vault to house it—are being installed.

On May 20 (2025), we received the following status information regarding the parking lot expansion project from the City of San Diego Deputy Director of Library Operations:

Phase 1: Top Lot As you're already aware, the top parking lot was renovated and additional spaces were added, which include ADA access, and Electric Vehicle dedicated spaces. The number of original parking spaces were 25 and now the top lot has 34 parking stalls, a gain of 9 parking spaces. Phase 2: Lower Lot The bottom lot is proposed to be expanded over the canyon to add additional parking. As communicated to me by the Engineering & Capital Projects Department, due to unforeseen conditions of the soils at the bottom of the canyon additional earthwork is required to sit the wall/supporting structure on appropriate soil. Geotechnical work called for removal of soil at a 5 ft depth, however, the rock foundation was found to be lower requiring 10 ft of earthwork, more grading work, importing of materials, and additional time is required. If not addressed, this could lead to settlement and safety issues in the future. The lower lot has 45 parking stalls, and an additional 39 are part of the design proposal. The Engineering & Capital Projects Department is working on an estimate for the additional items which will add to the cost of the project. Once we find out what the total is and the feasibility of obtaining those funds, we'll share with you next steps.

The bottom line is that the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Parking Lot "Expansion" Project has currently reduced the number of available parking spaces from 70 to 34 — a number which we imagine will persist for the indeterminate future. Considering that the library is scheduled to close entirely in September (2025) for 8-10 months, it is not unreasonable to assume that the already 1-year-delayed parking lot expansion project will be delayed for another year.

Directly affecting our library, the long-awaited fire suppression system replacement project began in April (2025) and was estimated to take 14 weeks to complete. The first phase of the project necessitated the closure of the Community Room, Seminar Room, and Grace's Book Nook for all of the month of April plus the first 3 weeks of May. Subsequent phases will cause each affected section of the main part of the library to be inaccessible in turn to the public and the library staff. The very much needed library roof and HVAC replacement are anticipated to follow. This is definitely good news for our 32 year-old library building—especially in view of the City's budgetary woes.

The bad news is that we have been advised that this deferred maintenance work will necessitate closure of the library for 8 to 10 months. If this sounds excessive to you, that was also the reaction of the Scripps Ranch Friends of the Library (SRFOL) Board. Phil Gunderson, Scripps Ranch Library Branch Manager, stated, "Library staff is working with the City and the Friends to mitigate impacts to the community resulting from this projected closure for much-needed maintenance." SRFOL is looking forward to collaborating with Phil and City officials in hopes of shortening the time involved. The Friends and our dedicated library staff understand how important the library is in the lives of community members. Stay tuned . . .

For the latest information on special programming, please check this website or check (and like!) the library's Facebook page.

Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center
10301 Scripps Lake Drive
San Diego, CA 92131