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Murrieta Library reports membership and usage growth in 2025 as children's expansion continues
Summary
Library staff reported growth in cardholders, visits, and checkouts in 2025 and provided a construction update on the children's library expansion, including a foundation pour scheduled the week of Feb. 9 and ongoing coordination with the Murrieta Library Foundation for donations and opening collections.
Library staff told the Murrieta Library Advisory Commission on Feb. 9 that the Murrieta Public Library experienced steady growth in 2025, with active cardholders rising to 21,360 from 16,628 the previous year, in-person visits increasing to 181,000 (from 168,000), and total checkouts climbing to 406,000 (from 393,000). Electronic checkouts increased to 15,600 from 11,250.
Staff said the collection now holds 84,388 items after adjustments related to the children's library expansion and that resource sharing remained active: the library lent 16,512 items to other Riverside County libraries and brought in 19,500 items by patron request. Programming expanded to 385 events serving more than 12,000 attendees, including early literacy and workforce-development activities.
On construction, staff reported the children's library expansion is underway: completed work includes grading, compaction, trenching, footings, utilities and interior demolition; the foundation pour was scheduled for the week of Feb. 9. Contracts for furniture, fixtures, equipment and low-voltage systems were approved by the city council; staff said weather delays had pushed work about two weeks but weekly construction meetings continue.
Staff noted operational adjustments to support patrons during construction, such as relocating a self-checkout kiosk nearer the temporary children's area, and said the Murrieta Library Foundation is coordinating donations for the expansion (staff did not provide totals but offered to circulate updated figures by email). Planning is underway for a launch collection and for the "lunch at the library" summer program in partnership with Murrieta Valley Unified School District and with California State Library grant support.
The commission did not take formal action on the expansion at the meeting; staff invited commissioners to submit feedback or questions about the expansion and related services by email.
