The new Walnut Creek facility, which opened in July 2010, has a large children’s wing and garden, a Teen Zone, a Business and Career Center, a Technology Center, and three group study rooms that can be reserved online, by calling the library or by visiting the help desk on the second floor. The Oak View meeting room, which seats 150, and the 16-seat Las Trampas conference room can be rented at walnut-creek.org/rentals.
Special collections include a Russian language collection, and an expanded health and wellness collection funded by John Muir Health. Gently used books and an assortment of Walnut Creek and library-themed gifts are available for sale in the Friends of the Library bookstore. There are 39 pieces of public art, including Christian Moeller’s Portrait in 12 Volumes of Grey, and docent-guided tours of the art may be booked at (925) 294-1423. Local artists can apply to display their work at the Community Art Gallery.
The library project, which included a 150-space parking lot and underground garage, and improvements to Civic Park, was funded through a public-private partnership with $34M from City of Walnut Creek library and parking capital improvement funds, and over $5M of private funds, raised by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation. The 42,000 square-foot building was designed by Group 4 Architecture Research + Planning, and built by West Bay Builders and Gilbane Building Company, and includes 600 visitor seats and 94 public computers. The building is a model of sustainable design with a raised flooring system to provide efficient heating and cooling, and data and electrical flexibility.
Further information on the Walnut Creek Library and public participation can be found at The Walnut Creek Library Foundation’s site and The Friends of the Walnut Creek Library’s site.