Sierra Madre secures $12.4 million for library rebuild; library to close in January and reopen June 6, 2026
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Summary
Mayor Robert Parkhurst said the city secured $12,400,000 in grants to rebuild the library, adding about 5,000 square feet and a 100-person community room. The current building will close in January for construction; the mayor and local fundraisers plan matched fundraising for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Sierra Madre has secured $12,400,000 in grant funding to rebuild its library, Mayor Robert Parkhurst said, and the project will add roughly 5,000 square feet, improve seismic and ADA compliance, install new HVAC systems and include a 100-person community room. Parkhurst said the project had a groundbreaking on Sept. 24 and that the new building is expected to be complete in early 2026.
Parkhurst warned the current library will close in January to allow for demolition and construction, and he urged residents to check out books before closure so they do not need to be moved. He said the library’s interior furnishings are not covered by the construction grants; local donor Bill Patzert issued a dollar-for-dollar challenge to fund furniture, fixtures and equipment and the mayor said that challenge has been met and exceeded. Library trustees and volunteers are participating in fundraising and transition planning.
The mayor linked the library project to community-service needs, noting events and volunteer-led programs — Wisteria Festival, Mount Wilson Trail Race, Rose Float Association, Winterfest — and said the added space will require additional staff once it opens. He said the city will return to staffing and budget implications when discussing long-term finances.
