Library Retrofit, Renovation and Restoration

The Palm Springs Public Library Renovation Project

OVERVIEW

The Palm Springs Public Library, at 300 S. Sunrise Way, opened in 1975. In need of upgrades, the City applied for and was awarded $6.5 million in matching grant funds by the California State Library Grant Program for the Palm Springs Public Library Renovation Project. The grant funds and matching Measure J funding will provide maintenance and infrastructure updates to the aging building. The City has hired Group 4 Architecture + Research, Inc. from South San Francisco, CA. During the next few months, we will work with them on the design phase of this renovation project. The architects and engineers will evaluate our buildings, make design recommendations, and create various designs from which we can choose.

To begin the process, community input was solicited and October was an information-gathering month for the architectural firm. They brought engineers to the Library to look at our systems and they conducted a Community Open House as well as launched a survey. From our side, we sent them statistics and details about our current collection, programs, and services.

On Wednesday, October 25 during lunchtime, the Architects first took the information downtown at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library and received input from 60 people, representing both residents and visitors. Then our Community Open House at the main library happened on a very busy day when we were hosting several events including a children’s Halloween and Día de los Muertos program, open play Mah Jong, teen pumpkin carving, and an author event. The architects set up vision boards and gave participants dots to place on areas they thought were important. Different colored dots notated the difference between children’s input and that from adults. They were able to gather input from 152 people at the Library.

Prior to this, and continuing through November 5, we launched an online survey, in English and Spanish, asking the community to give input on their priorities for a renovated library. Paper surveys were also available at several locations throughout the City if no computer access was available. We received 595 online responses and 13 paper responses. The Architects are analyzing that input, in addition to other factors to create program options and cost estimates to present to the Library Board of Trustees, the Library Foundation and the City Council by January 2024 to decide what can be funded and what is outside the scope of our Infrastructure Grant. The timeline is aggressive with the grant funded work needing to be complete by March 2026 but we anticipate an exciting process. More to come soon as the project evolves!

The Palm Springs Public Library Renovation Project Update to City Council Thursday, April 25, 2024

Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Principal, David Schnee presented a project update to City Council tonight at the Thursday, April 25 City Council meeting. A summary of the second round of community input meetings and online survey conducted in March and April 2024 will be discussed and the impact to the design direction for interiors and landscape designs will be shown, based on that community input. The PowerPoint to be shared at the City Council meeting has been uploaded here so you can see our progress.

City Council Approves Lease for Library Temporary Location During Renovation

At the Wednesday, June 11th City Council meeting the Council approved the three-year lease agreement with Rimrock LLC for a 6,001 square foot storefront for the Palm Springs Public Library to use as a temporary location for library services during the upcoming renovation.

According to the current timeline, the main Library will be open through Saturday, July 19, 2025 and then will close in preparation for the upcoming renovation, slated to take anywhere from 18 to 36 months.

During this time at the temporary location, located at Rimrock Plaza on the corner of E. Palm Canyon Drive and Gene Autry Trail at 4721 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Ste. A-E, Palm Springs, CA 92262, the Library will maintain the same hours of operation Monday through Saturday. The Library will have a capsule collection of select materials in addition to the new items that come in almost daily, available to check out. Plus, there will be public computers, baby and toddler story times, Teen S.T.E.A.M. events, Passport Acceptance Services by appointment, as well as the Friends of the Library will continue to sell gently used books at the library’s temporary location. These services are in addition to the digital services offered including eBooks, downloadable music, e-Magazines, streaming television and movies, language learning, and more! Adult programs will also continue at various locations throughout the city, including at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, located in downtown Palm Springs at 100 S. Palm Canyon Drive.

This was another important step that the Council took to keep the Library renovation project on track. Another was at the May 28^th meeting when they approved the issuance of approximately $40 million in lease revenue bonds to fund major renovations within the city; $30 million of which is earmarked for the Library. The next step is reviewing the bids that were received on Friday, June 6, and after negotiations, to award the bid in mid-July.

The Palm Springs Public Library Closing Postponed

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 – Due to HVAC improvements needed at the temporary location at Rimrock Plaza the Palm Springs Public Library will delay the closing of the library to the public for three weeks. The renovation celebration and closing party will still take place as scheduled on Saturday, July 19 from 2-4 PM and the public is encouraged to attend.

The last day the Library will be open to the public will be Friday, August 8, 2025, closing at the regular time of 5:00 p.m. The Library temporary location will open on Monday, August 25, 2025 at Rimrock Plaza at 4721 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264, During this time of transition when the library is closed for moving, all checkout dates will be extended automatically and the public is asked to hold items to return until the temporary library location opens.

The Friends of the Palm Springs Library will continue to sell books at the Library while it is open, 4 books for $1, until closing. However, they have relocated to Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Ramon Road and will resume accepting donations at the church location on August 11, but only by appointment by calling 760-668-8838. The Friends will also have a regular book sale area at the temporary home of the library at Rimrock Plaza and are planning monthly book sales later this year at the church. The library renovation is slated to begin in later August and is expected to last 18 – 36 months. To stay up-to-date on the project at EngagePalmSprings.com

The Palm Springs Public Library has been serving the community for 100 years and has been at the Sunrise Park location for 50 years. The main library is located at 300 S. Sunrise Way, on the corner of Sunrise Way and Baristo Road. During the renovation the Library will maintain the same hours of operation at the temporary space at Rimrock Plaza. Programming will continue at various locations around the City including but not limited to the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, Mizell Center, and more locations to be announced. For more information about the Library call 760-322-READ (7323) or go to www.palmspringslibrary.org. Follow the Library on Facebook and Instagram.

LIBRARY RENOVATION PROJECT TIMELINE

(ALL DATES TENTATIVE)

THE TIMELINE DEPENDS ON THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND OTHER FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL.