The highly anticipated grand opening of the fully remodeled Campbell Library is set for Saturday, May 9. Construction on the project started in November 2023.
“This is one Campbell event that has been a long time in the making and well worth the wait,” reads a press release from the Santa Clara County Library District. “The City of Campbell and (the district) have worked in partnership around this project starting with Measure O, a $50 million bond measure passed by Campbell voters in 2018 to renovate the library facility located at 77 Harrison Ave. and build a new police operations building with a 911 dispatch center and Emergency Operations Center.”
Of the original Measure O funds, $20.5 million was allocated to the library project, with an additional $500,000 electrification demonstration grant from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) to build a fully electric facility and a $4.7 million infrastructure California State Library grant. The library district contributed approximately $510,000 toward interior amenities and programming, and the Friends of the Campbell Library raised another $250,000.
“Many of the brand-new features in the Campbell Library have been carefully thought out and designed to provide a beautiful, welcoming community,” said County Librarian Jennifer Weeks.
The new 24,000-square-foot library features floor-to-ceiling windows to provide natural light. On the upper floor is a flexible community gathering space called The Overlook, flanked by the community room on one side and the children’s room on the other. The Overlook provides an unobstructed view of Orchard Green. There are also meeting rooms on this floor available for the public to reserve
The Campbell Express Library, opened in the Campbell Community Center during the renovation, closed on April 4.