Grand Opening For New Pleasant Hill Library Set For July 30

PLEASANT HILL, CA -- The grand opening of the brand-new Pleasant Hill Library to the public is set for 10 a.m. on July 30, city officials say.

The $24 million project, located at 2 Monticello Ave., sits on five acres that was donated by Contra Costa County. Construction was paid for by public funds approved by voters in 2016 via Measure K.

There will be opening remarks, followed by the big ribbon cutting at 10:30. Then the public can see what city officials have been bragging about.

Visitors will be able to tour the new, state-of-the-art, facility, check out demonstrations of the amenities, and light refreshments, crafts, and music.

Due to fire and COVID safety standards, the number of people allowed inside at any one time will be limited. The parking lot will be closed during the opening. Information on available parking for the event will be posted to the city's website, www.pleasanthillca.org/library.

After the festivities, the library will remain open to the public until its normal closing time of 5 p.m., then will resume its normal weekly schedule moving forward, according to the city.

The 25,000 square feet of library will have an activity yard for children with play sculptures and a magnetic play wall, a "messy maker" space designed to keep sound in and a retreat room to keep sound out.

There will be an early literacy area for youngsters and parents, a Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library store, study rooms and an outdoor hangout area for kids.

Next to Pleasant Hill Middle School, the new library will have a tech zone space with a kiosk for checking out laptops and a dedicated area for printing. The east side of the building will feature big windows with views of Grayson Creek and a path near the Contra Costa Canal Trail.

The library's power comes from state-of-the-art Tesla solar panels as a Net Zero Energy building, meaning it won't produce more greenhouse gases than it takes from the environment.

Hundreds of feet of piping for hot and cool water under the main floor to help regulate indoor temperature, as well as skylights overhead that can stay open on hot summer nights to make sure the place isn't too stuffy the next morning.

More information on the new Pleasant Hill Library is available at https://www.pleasanthillca.org/1226/Library-Project.

-- Bay City News Service