Turlock library will close soon for year-long expansion. Here’s the plan for patrons
The Turlock branch of the Stanislaus County Library is scheduled to close March 14 for its long-awaited expansion.
Patrons can use a “pop-up” library at the adjacent Turlock Senior Center during the expected year-long construction project.
The public is invited to a ground-breaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. The library is at 550 N. Minaret Ave., just east of downtown.
The $8.99 million project will expand the branch’s interior space about 60 percent to 16,530 square feet. The plans also include adding an interior courtyard and an outdoor children’s garden, totaling 2,484 square feet. The current space will be remodeled.
The library opened in 1968, designed for a future Turlock population of about 30,000. The city now has about 73,000 people. The enlarged building will provide separate space for children’s story times and other gatherings, something now missing.
Roebbelen Contracting Inc., based east of Sacramento, will do the work on a contract approved in November by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.
The board still has to affirm March 14 as the last day of library service in the current building. Construction is expected to start in early April and last until spring 2021.
Details on Turlock library services during the closure:
The pop-up library will allow patrons to place holds on books in the county collection and to pick them up. This will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays.
Books can still be returned in the drop boxes on Minaret and in the library parking lot.
Story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers will be at the pop-up library at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays.
Patrons also can visit other branches during the closure, including Denair, Keyes, Hughson and Ceres.
About two-thirds of the project funding is a loan from the county’s share of a national settlement with tobacco companies. The repayments will come from the county library budget, funded mainly by a 1/8 percent sales tax approved by voters. The project also will get money from the county general fund, fees on developers, and accumulated library sales taxes.
