Pinole Library to Close for Renovations Feb.–Nov. 2026; Staff Outline Services and Outreach Plans

Pinole — The Pinole Library will temporarily close for major building upgrades from February 2026 through November 2026, Pinole’s senior community library manager told the City Council on May 20.

"We are scheduled at this time to close down February 2026 through November 2026," Marleah Holmes, senior community library manager, said during a presentation on the library’s 2024–25 activities and 2025 goals. The upgrades include a new HVAC system, a new roof, electrical and lighting updates, and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements to the parking lot.

The closure is part of a planned capital project to modernize the facility. Holmes said staff intend to maintain services during the shutdown by boosting outreach to nearby county branches and expanding off-site options, particularly in North Richmond where the library operates a locker pickup site. She also listed operational goals for 2025—before the closure—including increasing library cardholders, expanding school visits, maintaining monthly family programs, expanding adult programming and boosting outreach in North Richmond.

Library staff reviewed current services that will be affected and those that will remain available countywide. The Pinole branch currently offers 12 public computers (including two for children), free Wi‑Fi, scanning services (free countywide), a meeting room that community groups can reserve, printing services (first 10 black-and-white prints free; 15¢ thereafter, 50¢ for color), a seed library run by the Pinole Garden Club and partnerships for programs such as free student meals and beginner guitar lessons. Holmes said the library served 2,820 free meals in 2024 through a partnership with West Contra Costa Unified School District.

Council members asked about interim service locations, meeting-room reservations and Friends of the Library activities. Holmes said a temporary branch location has not been selected and that library staff will provide notice as plans firm up. She described the meeting-room reservation process—requests are checked against the library calendar, programs have priority, public meetings are typically free and closed meetings are subject to a $40 hourly fee—and said the room can be reserved up to two months in advance for up to eight hours. Holmes also said the Friends of the Pinole Library run book sales and support programming and are seeking new members.

Public commenters asked whether the city will continue to fund library maintenance during the closure and whether the city had been setting aside funds to increase hours and cover maintenance. Holmes did not answer those finance-specific questions directly at the presentation; city staff offered to follow up with specifics about the city’s maintenance fund and the closure’s financial arrangements.

The presentations and council questions established next steps: staff will provide more detailed notices and outreach about interim services and publish information on where residents can obtain library services during the closure. The presentation also highlighted the library’s community programming and encouraged residents to get library cards and take advantage of countywide services.

For more information, the library’s manager advised residents to contact the Pinole Library during open hours or check the Contra Costa County Library website for resources and branch locations.

Pinole City Council members present included Mayor Cameron Sasai; Mayor Pro Tem Tave; Councilmembers Martinez Rubin, Murphy and Toms. The library presentation was given during the May 20 meeting and drew multiple council questions and public comments.