New Downtown Library
LATEST: Friends Receives $400,000 Matching Grant towards Capital Campaign
April 24, 2025: Monterey Peninsula Foundation has awarded Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries with a $400,000 matching grant in support of the Downtown Library Capital Campaign.
Right now, your contribution made to the campaign will be matched 100% by the foundation.
The Friends celebrated the official kickoff of the public capital campaign on April 26 at the Meet Me at the New Downtown Library Festival on the site of the new library. The Friends have already raised $1.9 million toward our $3 million goal. Now we are inviting the entire community to get involved.
The Friends’ vision is to expand how we think about philanthropy by everyone who is served by our library system to contribute to it. Here in Santa Cruz that is inclusive of the wide range of perspectives and generations who will determine what it means to be lifelong Friends to this Downtown Library.
Everyone can be a Friend to the new Downtown Library.
A Capital Campaign
For an Inspiring and Innovative New Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library
The Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library (breaking ground soon) is the hub of our 10-branch Santa Cruz Public Library system, providing library services and resources to Santa Cruz County’s 260,000+ residents.
As Santa Cruz continues to evolve, the new Downtown Library will be a community hub that fits our shared vision for a downtown that supports robust civic, residential, cultural, and business activity. The new library will benefit everyone in our community.
The Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries welcome you to celebrate and support the new Downtown Library through our Downtown Library Capital Campaign.
Join the Movement
Everyone can be a Friend to the new Downtown Library as we raise the remaining funds – together! Together, we’ll ensure this library will thrive — today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Please join us to create a library that is more than just a space.
Inviting Spaces
The Downtown Library’s innovative, accessible design offers a safe and inviting place for children, young adults, families, and older adults with large community and family activities rooms, study rooms, toddler area, teen center, expanded children’s library with dedicated programming space, special collections room, atrium, and roof deck.
The Downtown Library is part of an overall project with partnerships that include non-profit, public sector, and affordable housing partners. The Project will provide 124 units of Affordable Housing, a childcare center, a small commercial space with a public parking garage for vehicles and bicycles.
Project information and future construction updates from the City of Santa Cruz can be found here.
The images and design renderings shown here are for illustrative purposes only, actual materials & final construction design may vary. All renderings courtesy of Jayson Architecture.