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.

Great news!!! Grace's Book Nook has reopened effective Monday, May 19! Look for the YELLOW ARROWS in the library marking the special detour to the "back door" of the Book Nook in order to bypass the construction zone. Book Nook hours (effective 5/19/2025) are:

Detailed descriptions and updated information about monthly events and activities scheduled to be held at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center is available by clicking on the link below:

July 2025 Events and Activities

Due to the completion of most fire suppression system upgrades to our library's infrastructure, nearly all previously-scheduled events, programs, and activities have been restored to their regularly scheduled dates, times, and locations. The exception is that most Children's Programs will now be held in the library's Community Room. Also please note that some minor, unexpected construction work might require that some events be deferred to a future date or canceled altogether or moved to a different location.

Please note that, despite our attempt to notify you of all affected activities, occasional changes may occur without prior warning. Additionally, different sources of information for the same activities sometimes announce conflicting changes. Accordingly, starting March 3, 2025, and continuing through to at least August 1, we strongly encourage all patrons wishing to attend a scheduled event to contact the library on the day of the event to verify that the event will or will not, in fact, be held. When calling, also be sure to verify the date, time, and location of the activity as that information may change from what was previously announced. Please call the library at 858-538-8158 for activity confirmation.

• Fire Suppression System Work: Five areas in the library will be closed, in phases, during the period from March 3 through August 1, 2025 for the purpose of upgrading the library building's fire suppression system—a fancy term for "fire sprinklers." This is a very important safety upgrade. As each area in the library is worked upon, it will be closed to library patrons. The unaffected areas will be open to the public.
  
  

  Phase	Dates	Areas Affected	Current Status
  1	Mar 3 - Mar 21	Adult Non-fiction; Fireplace Area	Complete — Reopened
  2	Apr 1 - May 23	Community Room; Seminar Room; Grace's Book Nook	Complete — Reopened
  3	May 26 - Jun 20	Great Hall; Reference Area; Tower Room	Complete — Reopened
  4	Jun 23 - Jul 11	Children's Area	In Progress — Closed
  5	Jun 23 - Aug 1	IDEA Lab; Staff Area; Courtyard	In Progress — Closed
  	Jun 23 - Aug 1	Front Desk	In Progress — Open

  
  
  
• Community & Seminar Rooms; Great Hall (adult fiction); Reference Area; Tower Room: These areas in the library are open for use.
  
  
• Grace's Book Nook: Great news!!! Grace's Book Nook has reopened effective Monday, May 19! If access to the Book Nook from the Great Hall is restricted, look for the YELLOW ARROWS in the library marking the special detour to the "back door" of the Book Nook in order to bypass the construction zone. Book Nook hours (effective 5/19/2025) are:
  
  

  Monday & Tuesday: Noon - 7:30 PM

  Wednesday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

  
  
  
• Children and Teens Programs: Most Children and Teens Programs will be held in the Community Room until the Children's Area is once-again available.
  
  
• Adult Programs: All Adult Programs will be held as previously scheduled. Exception: According to the library and the SRFOL Folio, Mindful Meditation has been discontinued in July. Exception to the Exception: According to the SRCA 50 Plus July Newsletter, Mindful Meditation will be held on Mondays at 1pm at the Scripps Ranch Library. We suggest that all patrons wishing to attend Mindful Meditation contact the library on each anticipated day of the event to verify that Mindful Meditation will or will not, in fact, be held.
  
  
• Scripps Ranch Friends of the Library Board Meetings: The July 2025 Board meeting for the Scripps Ranch Friends of the Library (SRFOL) was held on Tuesday, July 8 at 6:00 pm at the library. No Board meeting will be held in August 2025. Starting in September 2025, Board meetings will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm unless announced otherwise. Board meetings will be held at the library when the library is open to the public. If the library is closed—during the months of HVAC/roof renovation, for example— an alternate location will be announced.
  
  
• Book Discussion Group for July: The July 24, 2025 Book Discussion Group meeting will be held from 12:30-2:00 pm at the library.
  
  
• The Entire Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center: We have been informed that the entire library will likely be closed for 8 to 10 months starting in late August 2025 or early September for the purpose of replacing the library's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and for replacing the entire roof of the library. We will attempt to provide additional details at least one month in advance of the closure contingent upon our receiving word from San Diego Public Library management. Please be aware that a moderate level of date uncertainty is typical of major renovation projects, and is especially typical of renovation projects performed on City property. As we gain more detailed information regarding this closure, we will update this notice.
  
  
• Pleasure of Your Company Concerts for 2025-2026: All concerts have concluded 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.
  
  

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 have been informed that work on the parking lot expansion project is expected to resume in the spring (2025). 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 reduced the number of available parking spaces from 70 to 34 — a number which we imagine will persist for the indeterminate future.

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