Turning the Page: Irvine’s Journey to a New Public Library System
Heritage Park Regional Library will open August 3rd and begin operations August 4th along with University Park Library. Photo credit Mia Li
In the summer of 2021, Irvine made the decision to separate its library system from the county and chart a new course. As the city prepares to reopen two of its library branches, we reflect on how this journey started and where it might lead.
The Road to Independence
In July of 2021, former Mayor Farrah Khan and former Vice Mayor Tammy Kim requested a two-person Library Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Negotiating Subcommittee. Around that time, Irvine contributed approximately $16 million in annual property tax revenue, with $10.5 million allocated to OCPL operations and $5.5 million set aside for the libraries. City Council has noted that the libraries in Irvine are outdated and inadequate for the growing community and that the city would soon go into discussions with the County. The MOU includes setting aside extra property tax money from Irvine in order to improve, renovate and rebuild Irvine’s libraries.
From 2022 to 2023, Irvine gave about $17 million in property taxes to the County of Orange for library services. This made up 28% of OCPL’s property tax revenue, the largest percentage of any city in the OCPL system, even though Irvine’s libraries only make up 11% of OCPL’s total library space. So in 2023, the city of Irvine sent a letter of intent informing OCPL of its plans to withdraw from its library system. With $28 million in set-aside funds from the MOU, the project seemed feasible. Although conflicts arose between Irvine and Orange County over the use of those funds, Irvine City Council officially approved the withdrawal of Irvine from the OCPL and the creation of an independent Irvine Library system in July of 2024.
What You Can Look Forward To
In November of 2024, city of Irvine said we can definitely expect that the libraries “will be a cornerstone of civic engagement, education, and community growth.” Julie Zeoli, appointed as the city’s first librarian in November 2024, shared some exciting changes happening in our libraries that we can look forward to and answered some questions.
A rich variety of events and programs are already available at Irvine’s libraries, like the Summer Reading Program (currently accessible online) and Family Storytime Saturdays for children. More engaging educational or recreational programs will be available for all ages, making Irvine’s libraries truly a third space, as Zeoli says, for people to gather.
A major improvement Irvinites can look forward to is the aesthetic enhancement of the facilities, which began on July 1. These improvements include carpeting, fresh paint, and new furniture, all of which will transform the libraries to be more comfortable for its users. New materials are being delivered before the official grand openings to add to the libraries’ collections.
Libraries are a multifaceted organization where they not only provide books but also a place to study, learn, and add to the idea of a shared economy. “We share our space, we share our books,” Zeoli says, “so why not offer the community the opportunity to share other things as well?” Thus, our libraries will also be offering a “Library of Things” where items such as telescopes and guitars can also be borrowed. Community members have the opportunity to try out a variety of products before deciding whether they would want to invest in a personal one.
Irvine’s libraries will offer many opportunities for community involvement. Not only will a volunteer program be available for teens and adults, but there will also be a teen advisory group so library services can receive feedback from teens moving forward. For organizations who wish to host events or partner with the libraries, a program proposal application will be available online.
Some common questions regarding the new libraries included improving the collection of reading materials and whether non-Irvine residents can access the library services. Residents will actually have the ability to submit requests if there’s a material they wish to see that’s not in the collection. And finally, anyone who’s a resident of California can get a library card for free and use the libraries.
How Do I Get A Library Card?
Get your library card when attending the grand opening on August 3rd! Photo credit Mia Li
New cards will be issued to Irvinites who sign up at the opening of the libraries on August 3rd or at any later date. Some earlier sign ups were available at pop-up libraries at both Heritage and University Park Library, a small selection of books were available for check-out before the official opening. You will need a photo ID and proof of California residence to sign up.
With the library card, you also have access to the digital library on Libby, where ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines are available for checkout. You can also use Beanstack to track your reading and participate in Irvine’s reading challenges.
The Future of Irvine’s Libraries
The grand opening of the libraries will take place on August 3rd. Heritage Park will be open from 1 to 4 pm, and University Park will be open from 2 to 5 pm. Both libraries will be officially in operation on August 4th. Katie Wheeler Library will be opening in early 2026. University Park and Katie Wheeler are County facilities and will be returned to the County by 2030, so the city will need to find replacement locations to build new libraries. Potential library spots that were discussed in a City Council meeting in April include Great Park, Irvine Ranch Conservancy land, and Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park. These are not official locations, and more information and analysis will be presented in August.
More community meetings will be hosted after the libraries are open, so check online for dates and locations. Information on these meetings will be presented to City Council in October.
