Published on August 29, 2026
Oakland, CA – Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, City leaders, and community partners gathered on August 29th to celebrate the grand reopening of the revitalized Brookfield Branch of the Oakland Public Library. This celebration marks an important milestone in the City’s commitment to providing welcoming, accessible, and resilient public spaces for youth, families, and neighbors.
“The Brookfield Branch has long been an important resource for the neighborhood,” said Jamie Turbak, Director of Oakland Public Library. “We are thrilled to reopen our doors and welcome the community back to a refreshed space designed to better serve residents for years to come. The event celebrates not only the reopening of the building but also the Brookfield Branch’s continuing role as a welcoming community gathering space for learning, discovery, and connection.”
Located in Ira Jinkins Park in Oakland’s Brookfield neighborhood, the Brookfield Branch has served as a trusted community resource, offering bilingual materials, a computer lab, and gathering spaces for residents. The branch shares its facilities with the East Oakland Senior Center, and the renovation includes shared electrical upgrades that strengthen long‑term reliability for both facilities and support the critical services they both offer.
The renewed Brookfield Branch now features modernized, energy‑efficient improvements designed to support a more sustainable future for East Oakland. The project included installation of a new electrical transformer and service upgrades that prepare the building for fully electric heating and cooling systems. These enhancements align with Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan while ensuring the library remains a resilient and comfortable space for the community.
“Today’s libraries are essential community gathering spaces that offer accessible resources, a place to connect, and relief from the elements for all ages,” said Mayor Barbara Lee. “By reopening the renovated Brookfield Branch, we are delivering long-overdue investments directly to historically underserved neighborhoods like East Oakland.”
Inside, visitors will find updated floors, windows, lighting, flexible shelving, new furnishings, and a refreshed circulation desk. The renovation also expands inclusive and accessible features throughout the building, including single‑user, all‑gender restrooms, improved ADA parking, updated signage, and brighter exterior lighting.
A centerpiece of the project is the enhanced Children’s Area, which now includes a new outdoor programming space for storytimes, gardening, and family activities — creating more opportunities to learn and explore for Oakland’s youngest residents.
“From planning to construction, this project has a been true partnership.” said Liam Garland, Director of Oakland Public Works. “Our team is proud to unveil a modern space that supports learning, connection, and community.”
These improvements are part of a $3 million renovation funded through a 50/50 match between the California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program and Oakland Measure KK.
The Oakland Public Library opened the Brookfield Branch at 10:00 a.m. so residents could explore the newly updated library. City leaders participated in a ribbon‑cutting ceremony and tree-planting ceremony in the afternoon. Community members were invited to enjoy free, family‑friendly activities from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., including children’s performances, face painting, crafts, treats, and a cooking class with Chef Terry. Also featured at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was Youth Poet Laureate Finalist Diego Aguilar-Rivera.
For more information about the celebration, visit the Brookfield Branch Grand Reopening event page. To learn more about the renovation, visit the project website: the Brookfield Branch Renovation Project page.
About Oakland Public Library (OPL)
Oakland Public Library, a department of the City of Oakland, has served the community since 1878. The library system includes 16 neighborhood branches, the Main Library and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland. Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect and grow.
About Oakland Public Works
Oakland Public Works is charged with building, maintaining, and improving the City’s infrastructure including public buildings, sanitary and storm sewers, lighting, and City-owned vehicles and equipment. Public Works provides or administers essential environmental services including solid waste and recycling services; illegal dumping abatement; street sweeping; maintenance of parks, trees, and medians; and watershed management.