New Downtown Library
Construction Has Begun
On an Inspiring New Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library
The new Downtown Branch Library is a landmark civic investment — a stunning resource serving people of all ages and interests, and a major asset for our entire downtown. As the hub for the entire Library system, it will continue to support the thriving collections and programs at all the other branches.
The Friends have already raised over $2.6 million toward our $3 million goal to support construction of the new Downtown Library. Everyone can be a Friend to the new Downtown Library.
A $400,000 matching grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, generous gifts from more than 350 individuals, families, foundations, and businesses have helped make this dream a reality. The Downtown Library Capital Campaign invites you to help us meet our goal in 2026 and deliver funding towards Phase 2 (the final phase) of construction.
Construction has begun and all Phase 1 funds have been secured and includes the exterior of the Downtown Library building (foundation, framework, façade, elevators, egress). Stay tuned for updates!
Phase 2, which the Friends are currently raising funds to support, includes interior structures and systems, construction and build out of the Downtown Library interiors. Phase 2 construction will provide a seismically safe home for library collections and spaces to serve constituents for decades.
A Capital Campaign
Our community has understood the value of a free public library system for over 160 years, when the first modest branch was created in downtown Santa Cruz. Since then, libraries everywhere have grown and evolved dramatically, meeting contemporary needs with a rich array of resources and programming. Thanks to community support, our Santa Cruz Public Libraries have met this challenge impressively, completing upgrades or replacement at nine of our ten branches within just the past ten years. Now we’re about to complete the final and largest upgrade in our entire Library system: the main branch in downtown Santa Cruz.
The Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries welcome you to celebrate and support the new Downtown Library through our Downtown Library Capital Campaign.
Inviting Spaces
Everyone can be a Friend to the new Downtown Library as we raise the remaining funds – together!
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.
Join the Movement
As Santa Cruz continues to evolve, you are part of a shared vision for a thriving community center. That vision includes everyone who is served by our library system and here in Santa Cruz we appreciate that includes our wide range of perspectives and generations.
Whether you have been a library supporter from way back or you are making your first gift today, the Friends recognize you are getting in on the ground floor of a new movement.
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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.