Sunnyvale trustees unanimously ask council to prioritize library expansion and urgent modernization

At its Nov. 3 meeting Sunnyvale's Board of Library Trustees voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt "expansion and urgent modernization of library services" as a priority project.

Vice Chair Hu moved the recommendation and accepted a friendly amendment to add two specific items to the board's request: renovation of restrooms at the main library and planning and design work for an additional library space. Chair Jatakonda seconded the motion; a roll-call vote recorded all five members in favor, and the motion passed 5-0.

Trustees discussed multiple possible approaches to expanding services during the preceding discussion, including establishing a branch focused on children's services (with the Sunnyvale Community Center suggested as one possible location), pursuing interim retail or public-private partnership solutions, or using distributed reading rooms or a mobile unit for outreach. Staff cautioned that a full teardown-and-rebuild of the central library would be costly and slow and said staff and council are exploring quicker remedies and feasible near-term options.

Board members framed the board's action as a posture of advocacy to ensure the council considers library space and modernization during the upcoming budget and priority-setting cycle. Staff explained that the board can nominate one priority project for council consideration and that, if the council selects the item, staff will be directed to study options and provide budgetary and timing estimates.

The board did not adopt a binding funding appropriation; the passed motion is a recommendation to the City Council to place the item among priority projects for study and potential future funding.