\u201cThe residents of North Sunnyvale have been wanting additional services,\u201d Mayor Larry Klein, who dressed as Willy Wonka for the occasion, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cMaking sure this building becomes a hub for North Sunnyvale is one of the biggest goals for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Sunnyvale-branch-library-2-1024x768.jpg\")
Sunnyvale resident Lang Xiang and her 4-year-old son Ethan at the opening of the Lakewood Branch Library and Learning Center on Oct. 31, 2026. Photo by Mike Langberg.<\/p>\n
Discussions on building the city\u2019s first branch library \u2014 the main library<\/a> is near downtown \u2014 began in 2012 and went through extended negotiations because the city partnered with the Sunnyvale and Fremont Union High school districts, requiring the state to get involved in approving the plans. It took more than a decade before construction began in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n North Sunnyvale, loosely defined as the area north of Evelyn Avenue, is a lower-income area than the rest of the city, with more office and industrial buildings and less support for housing.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s Community Equity Assessment report<\/a>, released in August, pinpointed the issue:<\/p>\n \u201cResidents from all over Sunnyvale noted the relative lack of city services and amenities in northern Sunnyvale<\/a>,\u201d the report said. \u201cWithout prompting, residents easily articulated the array of needs that exist in what they referred to as \u2018North Sunnyvale:\u2019 lack of walkable communities; insufficient access to public transportation; limited retail options; unmet need for low-cost childcare, free or subsidized school lunches, and afterschool programs; and impending loss of grocery stores.\u201d<\/p>\n District 6 Councilmember Eileen Le, who represents North Sunnyvale, said it\u2019s been hard for the city to keep pace with recent housing development.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re on the way, but I wouldn\u2019t say that we (in North Sunnyvale) are getting our fair share,\u201d Le told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe\u2019ve been adapting to more population moving in, although that\u2019s difficult at the city planning level because the city is very much built out. But I think the Lakewood library is a great step forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lakewood neighborhood, with 1,600 homes near Lawrence Expressway and Highway 101, is 4.5 miles from the main Sunnyvale library \u2014 a 15-minute drive or 25-minute bike ride \u2014 making it difficult for residents to take full advantage of library services. The branch library, which has a mix of 12 full-time and part-time employees, puts those services in easy reach.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like the library is a big win for our neighborhood,\u201d Linh Ly, president of the Lakewood Village Neighborhood Association<\/a>, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a gathering place for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1793801065_485_interactive-420894084833.png\")
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