Glendale Library, Arts & Culture will be hosting a family friendly Grand Opening of the newly renovated Youth Spaces at Central Library on Saturday, November 23 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, located at 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA.
The City of Glendale and Library, Arts & Culture department will be unveiling the newly redesigned Children’s Space highlighting vibrant collections focused on age-appropriate materials, a versatile programming space and a new reading area all accented by beautiful wallpaper with unique hand painted elements by Alix Soubiran.
In the new Teen Space, 13–18 year-olds will get to socialize, study, game and create with other teens in a soundproof communal area. The space includes group seating, study rooms for small groups, conversation spaces and gaming consoles, creating an environment where teens can connect.
A state-of-the-art Sound Space is where the public can learn how to record a podcast, music, and programs. Schedule time with library staff to show you how to operate the Sound Space, sign up for time and start recording.
The 92,600 square foot Central Library is an iconic example of Brutalist architecture designed by Welton Becket and Associates, which first opened in 1973. A renovation in 2017 created a vibrant public space and addressed critical safety and system upgrades but lacked the funding to remodel spaces for youth. The City of Glendale has worked with architects Johnson Favaro, LLC, to plan and design a remodel of the Children’s Room, create a dedicated Teen Space, Sound Space and add second-floor ADA-accessible restrooms.
Assemblymember Laura Friedman worked to allocate $6.095 million to the State Budget, which was administered by the California State Library (CSL). The City of Glendale also received $5.7 million from CSL’s Building Forward grant fund and $2.5 million in local funding from Measure S. Building Forward is the single largest investment in California’s public libraries in over 20 years.
In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony, library patrons will have the ability to explore the new spaces, engage in activities, storytimes, and performances. Glendale Central Library Grand Opening of Youth Spaces, Saturday, November 23, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91205.
For more information visit GlendaleLAC.org.
3 Hours of free parking is available with library validation at the Marketplace parking structure across the street from the Harvard Street entrance of Glendale Central Library. Accessible parking is available on the east side of the building.
