Will the library be large enough to meet the communitys needs?
The new downtown library will serve the needs of a community that has grown significantly since the library was built in 1961. The proposed building size of 42,000 square feet was determined as part of a detailed library service planning process, led by the County Library and reviewed and approved by the State Office of Library Construction. The planning process undertaken first in the late 1990s and later re-validated in 2002-2004 as part of the state grant process ensures that the library will be large enough to house the books and materials, computers and electronic resources, quiet and comfortable seating areas, and special program areas that meet the needs of Walnut Creek’s residents. When the new library is complete, the total square footage of both Walnut Creek libraries will still be less than the average size of more modern Bay Area libraries, on a per-person basis.
