The Glendale Central Library, located at 222 E. Harvard St., will be closing temporarily to the public from Friday, May 24, through Wednesday, June 19, as part of the ongoing Youth Spaces Renovation.
During the temporary closure, crucial phases of the project will be finished, such as the installation of the Children’s and Teen Space windows that will overlook the main floor.
The 92,600-square-foot library, which first opened in 1973, is an iconic example of Brutalist architecture designed by Welton Becket and Associates. A renovation in 2017 created a vibrant public space and addressed critical safety and system upgrades but lacked the funding to remodel spaces for youth.
Glendale has worked with architects from Johnson Favaro, LLC, to plan and design a remodel of the Children’s Room, create a dedicated Teen Space, and add second-floor ADA-accessible restrooms. Additional updates will be made to improve the efficiency of building systems, repair the roof, and, in partnership with Glendale Water & Power, install a 400-kilowatt-hour solar panel system.
Assemblywoman Laura Friedman secured more than $6 million in funding through Assembly Bill 179, the State Budget Act of 2022, for Glendale Central Library’s capital outlay and maintenance.
During the closure, patrons will still have access to normal operating hours of the city’s seven additional branch libraries, found at EGlendaleLAC.org/hours-of-operation.
Central Library staff will be available by phone at (818) 548-2021 during this closure between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
First published in the May 4 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
