On Sunday, August 3rd, the city of Irvine held ribbon-cutting ceremonies at both the Heritage Park Library and the University Park Library to meet the needs of a vibrant, rapidly growing, diverse community amidst its continuous development.
Mayor Larry Agland, Councilmember Melinda Liu from District 1, William Go from District 2, Vice Mayor and Councilmember James Mai from District 3, Councilmember Mike Carroll from District 4, along with hundreds of residents attended the opening event at the Heritage Park Library.
Previously part of the Orange County Public Library system, the libraries were initially established under the county government’s supervision and operated as a part of the county library system with high utilization rates, according to Mayor Agland. However, as Irvine allocated more funding to the county library system without the corresponding benefits, they made the decision to establish their own library system.
In the 2022-23 fiscal year, Irvine contributed 28% of the property tax revenue to the Orange County library but received only 11% in return. In July 2024, the Irvine City Council passed a resolution to transfer the public library from Orange County to Irvine by July 2025. Prior to its opening, the Heritage Park Library took approximately 12 weeks for refurbishment and improvements.
Councilmember Carroll mentioned that Irvine was established in 1971 with just a few tens of thousands of residents, but now it boasts a population of 320,000, being the 14th largest city in California and the 51st largest in the United States. He emphasized the need for a library that reflects the values of the community and serves as a gathering place for learning, lectures, hosting cultural events, and contributing to the greatness of Irvine.
Councilmember Mai shared that the library, built in 1988, was once the most visited site in the Orange County library system, being just a block away from his home where his children obtained their first library cards. He expressed hope that in the decades to come, people would look back with pride that Irvine established its own library system on this day.
In addition to the two libraries opened that day, the Katie Wheeler Library is set to reopen in early 2026. Irvine plans to construct larger libraries in the coming years. Currently, the Orange County library system has 27 branch locations.
Christopher Slama, Irvine’s Community Services Director, described the library as a home for books and learning, bringing together people from all walks of life – children, students, job seekers, researchers, and retirees. He emphasized that the library serves as a center of vitality for knowledge, inclusivity, creativity, and opportunities, marking an important milestone for Irvine realized through the vision and dedication of many.
Crystal, the library manager, explained that the old Orange County library cards are no longer valid, and residents need to obtain new cards for the Irvine public library for free, either by registering online or in person at the library.
The library allows borrowing up to 50 books at a time, though people typically borrow around 5, with a collection of 100,000 books ensuring sufficient availability. The borrowing period is 21 days, with the option to renew five times but requiring the return of books if reserved by others.
During the event, in addition to issuing library cards and borrowing books, activities like crafting, treasure hunts, and outdoor food options were available. A 7th-grade student was searching for fantasy novels while a mother, Celine, accompanied her daughter who was carrying several books. Celine mentioned her daughter, in the third grade, is required to read for at least 20 minutes daily by her teacher, and she reads quickly.
The Heritage Park Library received increased funding from the city government for repainting, acquiring new furniture, and hiring additional staff. Irvine is seeking input on improvement plans for the Heritage Community Park where the library is located, established in 1975, as upgrades are planned for the library, art center, and community center buildings. Residents can provide suggestions by participating in the city’s upcoming discussion sessions this month or sharing their ideas on the online forum.