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T.O. to weigh plan for radio museum and archives building
There would be no cost to the city, report indicates
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The Thousand Oaks City Council will be asked tonight to approve a proposal to build a radio archives and museum structure at the Thousand Oaks Library.
A report to the council prepared by Stephen R. Brogden, library director, says there are no financial costs to the city associated with the project, which would involve raising $30 million to build and operate the American Radio Archives and Museum.
The entire project is being managed by the nonprofit Thousand Oaks Library Foundation.
When it is built, the structure will stand alongside the Grant R. Brimhall Library, the library's main building.
The city has a long-term lease with the Conejo Recreation and Park District, which owns the land on which the library is built.
Any plans to modify the library site, such as building an archives facility, are subject to approval of the Park District.
In February, the district approved negotiating a lease agreement to provide such a site.
The idea of constructing such a building has been on paper for at least seven years.
In January 2001, Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters, an organization of broadcasting professionals dedicated to the preservation of old-time radio, announced in Hollywood that it would move its enormous collection of radio memorabilia to the Thousand Oaks Library as soon as a building is constructed to accommodate it.
The addition of the broadcasters' collection to those of Norman Corwin, Rudy Vallee, Frank Bresee and other radio personalities already at the library will make it the largest repository of radio materials in the United States.
Plans call for a room where visitors can listen to old-time radio programs and a small theater where programs could be performed.
A supportive vote by the council tonight will continue the city's commitment to community and cultural programs and services, Brogden says in his report.
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