Long-Awaited Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library to Open in Long Beach Saturday

LONG BEACH, CA — A new library in North Long Beach, named after the first lady, will finally open its doors this weekend after more than a decade of planning.

The Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave., will be unveiled to the public Saturday, Sept. 10. It replaces the old North Neighborhood Library, 5571 Orange Ave., which was long in the tooth and cramped.

“The Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library will be a beacon of learning, imagination and growth for the entire community,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. “With enhanced technology and study rooms available for the public, the new library will be a great place for the community to gather and work collaboratively.”

The new library is three and a half times the size of the previous location and has three community rooms and study rooms with audio-visual technology to support group meetings, workshops, seminars and group study needs. The North Library is one of Long Beach's most used libraries, serving nearly a quarter of the city's population.

“The new library is a great treasure for the entire community,” Councilman Al Austin said. “While we are fortunate to be the ones in office as the ribbon is cut, none of this would have been possible without the work of our predecessors on the City Council, as well as many city staff and community members.”

But the library almost didn't happen. Plans to build the new library were announced in 2006 by then-Mayor Bob Foster. But the Great Recession in 2008 delayed the project, followed by Gov. Jerry Brown's dismantling of the state’s redevelopment agencies in 2010, which further jeopardized the project. That same year, the city decided to go with the public funding option for the library, and in 2014, the city broke ground on the new library.

The building features and incorporates a reproduction of the former Atlantic Theater's iconic tower which accents the children's library. The new library sits on top of the Atlantic Theater's former location. The original spire, which has been refurbished, has been placed atop the tower.

“The opening of the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library is a defining moment in Long Beach history, and will serve as an inspiration for generations to come,” Vice Mayor Rex Richardson said. “The added technology and community space will be a vital resource for the residents and youth of North Long Beach.”

The new library will also feature some new innovations for the city's public library system, including a "makerspace," 3-D printing, self-checkout kiosks and an automated book return and sorting system. The library also includes an expanded Family Learning Center, computers with assistive and adaptive technology for people with special needs, a dedicated space for early literacy classes for preschoolers, and cozy nooks for caregivers and children to read and explore.

"The new library will provide services that are most important for the community," director of library services Glenda Williams said. "We will also offer more of what libraries are providing in the 21st Century to meet the educational and personal goals of our Long Beach residents."

The ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony for the 24,500-square-foot library will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday. The first lady will not be present, but the city is in talks with the White House about a potential visit by Michelle Obama in the future, Richardson said.

Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Public Library