New Downtown Library
A Capital Campaign
For an Inspiring and Innovative New Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library
Thanks to community support, our Santa Cruz Public Libraries have completed 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 have already raised over $2.6 million toward our $3 million goal to support construction of the new Downtown Library.
The Monterey Peninsula Foundation awarded Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries with a $400,000 matching grant in support of the Downtown Library Capital Campaign. Everyone can be a Friend to the new Downtown Library and right now your gift is doubled by the match.
This will be a landmark civic investment — a stunning resource serving people of all ages and interests, and a major asset for our entire downtown.
A Capital Campaign
For an Inspiring and Innovative New Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library
The Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library (now under construction) 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.