Frequently Asked Questions

The Main Library was closed May 27- December 1, 2024 for critical infrastructure upgrades that include:

• New roof installation
• Skylight repair
• Critical electrical system upgrades
• New boiler control system installation
• Auditorium heating and cooling system installation (heat pump)
• Improvements to lighting, flooring, and ceilings throughout the building

Main’s Feasibility Study is not a construction project. It will provide a long-range plan for the future of the Main Library and the library wide system operations.

The current Main Library was built in 1950 (designed in the 1930s) and is vastly undersized for the size of the community and library system support services needed. A 2006 Master Facilities Plan (Plan) identified the need for a revitalized and expanded Main Library to better serve the residents of Oakland. The current Feasibility Study will update the 2006 Needs Assessment and update the recommendations based on the future service needs of Oakland’s increasing population and changing demographics. Learn more about the feasibility study, opens a new window.