Arroyo Grande library closing for renovations. But you can still check out books

The Arroyo Grande Library will close on July 16 as a major renovation project begins, but that doesn’t mean parents and others won’t be able to check out books.

Kids can still pick out their next favorite summer read at the library’s temporary location right next door.

The library staff is setting up shop at the Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce, where people can pick up books on hold or return their latest novel. 

The location will open its doors on July 16. Visitors can stop by Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1 to 6 p.m. or Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitors are also still able to use their library card to borrow ebooks, audiobooks or movies virtually. 

Until the renovations start, it is unclear how long the work will take and when the building will reopen, engagement and marketing librarian Erica Thatcher said.

Whether visitors take advantage of the temporary location or one of the other county libraries depends on what they are looking to get out of the visit.

“Some like to come hang out and read the paper or visit with their neighbors, so they will probably end up at our other locations,” Thatcher said. “Others do their shopping on our website and they come pick up materials they requested.”

Meanwhile, the Arroyo Grande Library started holding story time in Rancho Grande Park on July 1 at 10:30 a.m. 

For those looking for a traditional library experience, Thatcher recommended that people head over to the Shell Beach location to explore the bungalow on a cliff or the Nipomo branch for its large kids section. 

The renovation is funded through $1.6 million from the California State Library’s Building Forward Library Infrastructure Grant, according to a SLO County news release. 

The renovations will bring the library up to code, with ADA-compliant restrooms, an upgraded fire suppression system and an updated HVAC. They are also expanding the children’s area.

Since the library’s last renovation in 1979, it is ready for some TLC, Thatcher said. 

Kids’ favorite staff members will be working at the temporary location or will pop up at various locations across the county while the renovations take place. 

The temporary location is still participating in the County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries’ summer reading challenge, and the staff will hand out prizes and congratulate readers on reaching their reading goal, Thatcher said. 

This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.