After months of planning, preparation, and coordination, the Victor Miceli Law Library (VMLL) celebrated its grand reopening in downtown Riverside! On April 21st, 2023, California state dignitaries, Riverside County legal professionals, and members of the public gathered in downtown Riverside to celebrate a new milestone in the eight-decade history of the Riverside County Law Library (RCLL) organization. What started in 1941 with the first official board meeting minutes has now culminated with the completion of the modernization remodel project at the Riverside branch of the RCLL. 

Guests of the grand reopening were first invited to attend a ceremony held in Department 1 of the Riverside Historic Courthouse. The ceremony consisted of remarks by Manuel A. Ramirez (Presiding Justice – California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two), Jackson Lucky (RCLL Board President), and John Boyd (RCLL Board Member). The main event of the ceremony consisted of a Q&A session with our guest of honor, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, moderated by Judge Jacqueline Jackson (RCLL Board Vice President). During the Q&A, Chief Justice Guerrero reflected on her time growing up in the Imperial Valley and what it meant to her to become the first Latina to serve as California’s Chief Justice as a daughter of Mexican immigrants. I could tell this part of the Q&A was especially memorable for many people as the entire room fell silent during the Chief Justice’s childhood reflections.  

Following the Q&A session, several awards and plaques were given out. Certificates of Recognition were given by Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, California Assemblymember Bill Essayli, California Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, California Senator Richard D. Roth, and California Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh in honor of the VMLL’s grand reopening. In addition, Recognition plaques were also presented to the Chief Justice and Victor Miceli Jr.    

After the ceremony, a reception was held at the newly remodeled library. To kick off the reception, RCLL past Board President Judge Michele Levine (Ret.) and current RCLL Board President Jackson Lucky made brief remarks celebrating the remodel and thanked the staff for putting on the event. Following these remarks, wielding comically large scissors, Michele Levine cut the ceremonial blue ribbon, officially marking the library’s grand reopening. Met with cheers and applause, hungry attendees began making their way to the buffet of delicious food provided by McGrath’s Elegant Catering. Plates of bruschetta, chicken wings, and eclairs, among other tasty treats, travelled around the library’s remodeled interior as attendees mingled and admired the new furnishings.  

Poster exhibits indicating iconic parts of the library, new and old, were scattered around the building as a self-guided tour through the library’s evolution. A video slide show depicting RCLL’s eight-decade history was on display on the public computers. These exhibits displayed a glimpse into RCLL’s historic foundations and a projection into the future as the library extends its arms and embraces new technologies and further modernizations to the institution.   

The Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero attended the reception and offered photo opportunities and conversation with attendees. As the night went on, the library grew quieter as participants trickled out, leaving the library staff to take down what they put up as the foundation of this delightful evening. None of this would have been possible without the hard work of the Riverside County Law Library staff, and so we deserve our own round of applause for that.  

To view photos from the grand reopening, click here

To view the historical video slide show, click here

Written by: Yanis Azzou, Library Assistant & Michael Van Aken, Electronic Services Librarian