WHITTIER – The Whittier Central Library has officially re-opened its doors after a two-year closure for renovation. 

City of Whittier and Whittier Public Library staff were joined by present and former City Council members, local dignitaries, the library’s Board of Trustees, and community members of all ages for the occasion, which was commemorated by an official ribbon cutting ceremony held on Saturday, June 18.

The Central Library, built near the civic center in 1959 to replace the former Carnegie Library, now boasts an additional 5,200 square feet to accommodate expanded children and teen areas, a computer lab and digital LED wall, a Veterans Resource Center, and a 144-person community meeting room following a full-scale renovation that broke ground in October 2020.

“The Central Library before us today is a result of many years’ worth of planning and thoughtful decision making by our City Council, our staff, the Whittier Public Library Foundation, and others who made it their mission to prioritize this renovation for future generations of Whittier,” said Mayor Joe Vinatieri. “Getting here was no easy feat and it serves as a great example of Whittier’s collective power when we come together for the greater good.”

Whittier city officials first began to address the growing need for critical upgrades at the Central Library in 2002, citing everything from electricity, plumbing, and lighting to providing adequate space for seating and ensuring accessibility compliance. 

In October 2019, the City Council adopted a resolution to fund the Central Library remodel and contracted with Steve Finney of CWA AIA to provide design and architecture, Judy Van Wyk of The Design Studio for interior design, and in February 2020 with CW Driver to provide construction management. 

Staff from the city’s IT, Public Works, and Community Development departments also offered assistance and oversight for the duration of the remodel, which followed design guidelines from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to appropriately mesh the historic structure with modern elements of the two exterior additions to the building.

“Congratulations to Paymaneh Maghsoudi, Whittier’s Director of Library Services, and her staff who, although displaced, operated successfully during the pandemic out of the Whittier Historic Depot and continued to provide exceptional service to our community,” said City Manager Brian Saeki. “I know they’re anxious to make themselves at home, so this celebration is a long time coming and much deserved.”

The Central Library renovation has seen several iterations to cover necessary upgrades to the HVAC, electrical, and mechanical systems, as well as asbestos and lead abatement and earthquake bracing. 

In November 2017, when a general obligation bond promising $22.5 million dollars in future funding didn’t pass, the City Council began reducing the scope of the project and identifying alternative funding sources. An initial kick-off donation of $100,000 had been made by former Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, and in 2019, state Senator Bob Archuleta was able to successfully earmark another $4.4 million in state budget dollars to move the re-imagined Central Library project forward. 

That funding commitment was followed by $2 million from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and $450,000 from Congresswoman Linda Sanchez to the Whittier Public Library Foundation. 

Together with the Whittier Public Library, which raised more than $1.5 million toward the project, in addition to funding all new furnishings and equipment, the Whittier City Council was able to close the funding gap and carry the $17 million remodel across the finish line.

“Thanks to the steadfast support of our local elected officials, the commitment and leadership from the Whittier Public Library Foundation, and the generosity of many individual donors who brought this vision to life, the new-and-improved Central Library is well-equipped to serve Whittier families for years to come,” said Vinatieri. “The library has become its own chapter in the story of Whittier.”

The Whittier Central Library is open Monday through Saturday and members of the community are invited to host their next community meeting there, visit the new Passport Service Center, browse the new History Room, tinker in the state-of-the-art Makerspace, and explore the Friends Shop for unique pre-owned books and gifts. 

For more information on the Whittier Public Library and its summer programs, please call (562) 567-9900 or visit www.whittierlibrary.org.