Published: December 22, 2022
The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Infrastructure Grant Program has awarded funds to support critical maintenance and repair projects at two Oakland Public Library facilities: $1,689,314 for the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) and $2,148,333 for the Brookfield Branch Library.
OAKLAND, CA – Oakland Public Library Director Jamie Turbak is pleased to announce that both applications submitted to the California State Library’s Building Forward Library Infrastructure Grant Program this spring were approved for funding in September. The agreements for these projects were finalized in mid-December, and the first installment of funds is expected to arrive in February 2023.
The $1,689,314 grant approved for AAMLO will support improvements to the fire suppression and security systems, install a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, upgrade electrical panels and service, and repair historic windows, the roof, and drainage, among other enhancements.
The $2,148,333 grant for the Brookfield Branch Library will allow OPL to repair or replace damaged siding, walls, insulation, and roof, install a new HVAC system, to replace windows and sewer lines, and to make additional repairs.
The projects will be managed by City of Oakland, Office of Public Works Architects Tess Kavanaugh (AAMLO) and Calvin Hao (Brookfield.) Work must be completed on both grants by March 31, 2026.
These two grants are part of the first round of the California State Library’s $439 million Building Forward Library Improvement Grant Program – the largest investment in public library infrastructure in California history. In round one, the California State Library awarded $254 million in grants to public libraries in 172 cities across 34 counties to renovate and improve facilities across the state.
The terms of the grant required Oakland to provide 1:1 matching funds, which were approved by the Oakland City Council in May 2022. “Without the Bond Measure KK fund that were approved by Oakland voters in 2016, the library would not have been able to apply for these grants. I am grateful to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making the funding for these critical improvements possible,” Ms. Turbak said in her announcement.
For more information, please call Jamie Turbak at (510) 238-6610 or visit the California State Library’s website, opens a new window.
This project is supported in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
