Library Renovations

Interior of the Kensington library

The Kensington branch of the Contra Costa Library is one of four county-owned libraries that will undergo renovation over the next two years. It is slated to close on July 27, 2026, for at least 12 months.

Improvements will include new HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), electrical and lighting upgrades, enhancements to the library’s interior, improvements related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the construction of a new outdoor seating space.

Upcoming Meeting About the Plans

An informational meeting on plans to renovate the 60-year-old Kensington Library is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, in the library.

The other libraries to be renovated are Pinole, Antioch, and Walnut Creek’s Ygnacio Valley branch.

Staff from closed libraries will be transferred to other libraries.

How Renovations Were Funded

Supervisor John Gioia said the $14.9 million in renovations at four libraries are being paid for with diverse funding sources, including revenue from the Measure X sales tax passed in 2020, county library funds, a California State Library Building Forward grant and Bay Area Air Quality Management District Clean Air Center funds.

Gioia said a one-time allocation of $6.5 million in Measure X funds for upgrades to the four libraries was made by the Board of Supervisors four years ago. It was used to leverage about $8.4 million in other funds (including non-county funds). The county library has been working with county public works to plan, design and construct the improvements.

Why Do It Now?

While some may question why the renovations are moving forward at a time when the county is asking voters to pass a new 0.625% sales tax to help offset severe cutbacks in federal funding, Gioia said it would be unwise use of taxpayer funds to cancel projects when construction is imminent after investing a significant amount of time and money in these library projects.

Gioia added, “Furthermore, the over $500 million in cutbacks to Health and Human Services resulting from changes in federal law are ongoing cuts. One-time funds of $6.5 million provide very little value to mitigating the harms caused by these cuts.”

Planned Library Closures

The planned library closures are:

Pinole: March 1 through the end of 2026

Kensington: July 27, 2026 through Summer 2027 and possibly longer

Antioch: Sept. 8, 2026 through end of 2026

Ygnacio Valley: Fall 2026 through Spring/Summer 2027

“These libraries are located in separate geographic service areas so that overlapping closures do not impact customer/resident needs,” Gioia said. “For example, Kensington residents can still go to the nearby El Cerrito library, and Pinole area residents can still go to the San Pablo or El Sobrante libraries. This closure plan is most cost effective from a taxpayer perspective.”

People using the Kensington Library on a recent quiet morning said they will miss it while it’s closed.

Lucy Rodriguez, a Kensington resident, was at the library to pick up some books, including one she had ordered from an Alameda County library through the Link system.

“I usually come here just to pick up books and go,” she said. "You can request any book in the system.”

“I really like this library,” Rodriguez continued. “People are so nice and friendly. When I first moved here from Palo Alto I came to a reading club because I wanted to meet people…I guess when they close I will go to the one on Stockton.”

“I love libraries and I love this library,” said Eileeen Van Soelen, a Berkeley resident. “It’s so peaceful.” During the closure, she said, “I’ll try other libraries that aren’t too far.”