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Corona library to add consistent hours, begin Innovation Center construction and expand literacy grants
Summary
Library staff told the board the library will adopt consistent hours beginning Nov. 3, construction of an Innovation Center will start in late November after a bid award, and multiple state and local grants are funding literacy, heritage and program expansions.
Vice Chair Leonard heard a series of operational updates from Community Services Director Donna Finch and Library Manager Danielle Whittington on library hours, a planned Innovation Center and an array of grants and programs.
Whittington told trustees the library will change hours effective Nov. 3 to Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and remain closed on Sunday. "The thought process behind changing the hours was to have a consistent opening time," Whittington said, adding staff will monitor impacts and reevaluate if needed.
Whittington said the construction bid for the library's Innovation Center was awarded to Triangle DeCon Services on Oct. 15 and is expected to begin in late November. "We are anticipated to begin construction in late November, and it should last approximately six months," she said. Staff are finalizing furniture and technology and are coordinating programming with CNUSD Adult School and Norco College; the Bourns Youth Innovation Center provided guidance on programming.
The report included grant awards and pending funding. Whittington said the library was awarded ZipBooks through the California State Library; a $6,000 lunch-at-the-library component is pending for summer programming; a Groundworks grant awarded $5,500 to support Heritage Room archival materials; an ESL grant of $93,000 and an Adult and Family Literacy Act award of $74,000 support literacy services; and a $500 Vets Connect grant from the Corona Rotary is pending. Whittington highlighted an adult literacy learner supported by state-funded services who advanced from a first-grade to a third-grade reading level.
Staff previewed seasonal programming and registration: a Halloween all-ages story time with a trick-or-treat around the library, a pet-portrait paint-and-sip for adults (registration opens Oct. 31, 70 seats), a tween K-pop event and a glow-in-the-dark teen paint-and-sip (45 seats). Britney, an office assistant, said most library programs are free and that registration is available via QR codes on flyers and social posts.
Whittington also reported a staff highlight, low incident counts overall, and an incident summary for the month noting one suspension and two incidents involving drugs or drug paraphernalia. She announced a Veterans Day memorial dedication and ribbon cutting scheduled for Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. on the Corona South Lawn.
Why this matters: the hours change seeks to reduce patron confusion about opening times and may affect weekend use patterns; the Innovation Center is a capital project that will add new technology and programming partnerships; and the mix of state and local grants contributes material funding for literacy and heritage preservation.
Sources: statements by Community Services Director Donna Finch and Library Manager Danielle Whittington to the Corona Public Library Board of Trustees, Oct. 2025.
