Arroyo Grande Library Temporarily Closing for Significant Renovations Next Month
Jarrod Zinn
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. – Central Coast bookworms will need to make a small adjustment starting next month.
But luckily, it’s only a matter of going next door.
The Arroyo Grande Library is in need of major renovations.
San Luis Obispo county’s largest library will temporarily close for critical infrastructure updates.
“We have a really strong readership at the Arroyo Grande Library,” says Erica Thatcher with County of SLO Public Libraries. “That library lends more books than any of the other libraries in our library system.”
A state grant is making these essential safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements possible.
They’re deemed “critical” for ongoing operations.
“We received a $1.6 million grant,” says Thatcher. “The California State Library has an initiative called the Building Forward Grant, and they are funding projects all over the state of California to bring libraries up to date.”
The state has a list of 278 libraries benefiting from this infrastructure grant, including this location.
“They’re committed to making sure that our buildings are keeping up with all of the things that are happening in today’s world,” says Thatcher.
The library will be receiving upgrades for fire suppression, ADA compliant restrooms, a new HVAC system, security features, and more.
“The project includes the HVAC and the ADA compliance, but it also includes a kind of reimagining of the children’s area,” says Thatcher. “So that’s probably the biggest part of the project that isn’t just updates. We don’t know exactly when the project will be completed and we’ll know more when we get underway and the project progresses.”
The library will close on July 16th.
A temporary exchange location will be set up right next door at the Chamber of Commerce building to return library items and to pick up anything on hold.
During the closure, residents of south San Luis Obispo county are welcome to visit other county libraries in Nipomo, Oceano, and Shell Beach.
Learn more about the closure on the Arroyo Grande Library’s website.
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