YV Library Reopens to Rave Reviews

Even the finest of gems needs care and attention. After almost 30 years of wear and tear, such was the case with Walnut Creek’s Ygnacio Valley Library. The branch was in serious need of refurbishing and updating to meet today’s standards. However, the Contra Costa County Library, which owns the building and operates the library, had no funds for such a project.

The Walnut Creek Library Foundation made a proposal the County Library staff couldn’t refuse. The Foundation pledged to raise a minimum of $150,000 to fund the upgrades the County Library deemed necessary. Through an extensive private fundraising effort, the Library Foundation raised more than $180,000 for the project, which was combined with a $96,000 contribution from the County Library for the improvements. The project has been called an “awesome” partnership, without precedent for our County Library system.

With the branch reopening on July 19, 2004, patrons were greeted with a new interior layout featuring separate spaces for preschoolers, elementary-age children and teens. Adults now enjoy a quiet reading area with fiction, periodicals, audiovisual and investment materials close by.

Seismic reinforcement, a new phone system, and improved lighting and wiring for computers were all a part of the move to better serve the public in the 21st century. At the same time, measures were taken to make the building more accessible and user friendly. Along with the interior redesign, new carpeting and upholstery made the surroundings more enjoyable.

These improvements wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership of the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and the Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library and donations by a multitude of library supporters.