After over 500 days of renovation, the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library will celebrate its grand reopening on Jan. 11.
The 6,900-square-foot library at 195 Bay Shore Ave. closed down in August 2023 to undergo upgrades that included an ADA-compliant entrance ramp with automatic front doors and new energy-efficient windows that the city says offer “breathtaking views of Alamitos Bay.” It also has new carpeting throughout the building and updated shelving in the children’s area.
The branch first opened in 1959. The revamp will “provide a more welcoming, accessible and engaging environment for patrons,” the city of Long Beach said in a news release.
Starting on Jan. 13, the Bay Shore branch will now be open six days a week — up from its previous five-day schedule.
“Bay Shore Neighborhood Library is a center of inspiration and learning, and I am thrilled to see it returning better than ever to meet the needs of our community,” 3rd District Councilmember Kristina Duggan said in a statement.
The $2 million renovation was funded through $1.3 million in Measure A sales tax revenue and $660,000 of state money through Assembly Bill 32.
City officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 11. The event will also feature a performance by Christopher T. Magician at 10:30 a.m., a children’s story time at noon and all-day arts and crafts activities for residents.
“We are thrilled to welcome the community back to the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library,” said Library Director Cathy De Leon. “These renovations not only enhance the library’s functionality and accessibility but also reaffirm our mission to provide spaces that inspire learning, exploration, and connection.”
The library will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Mondays, noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
More information about the grand opening is available here.