Grand opening celebration and dedication ceremony to cheer near completion of Hayward’s new main public library

HAYWARD, Calif., Oct. 23, 2018—The City of Hayward will open the doors of its nearly completed 21^st Century Library and Community Learning Center on Saturday as part of a grand opening celebration and dedication ceremony that will pay tribute to the life of César Chávez.

This historic and free community event will provide opportunities to learn about the new library’s many features and facilities as well as the grassroots community effort that led to its construction.

In addition to the dedication ceremony, there will be guided tours of accessible portions of the building, food and refreshments, entertainment and other fun activities for people of all ages throughout the day.

Fittingly, the festivities—from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27—will take place on the downtown block of C Street between the old main branch of the Hayward public library and its gleaming replacement, the 21^st Century Library and Community Learning Center, at 888 C Street.

The new library is a three-story, 58,000-square-foot building that will house 50 percent more books and other materials, 53 additional computers available for public use, a Makerspace featuring 3D printers, robotics and textiles, a digital-media lab, multiple community meeting rooms, a café, and a Homework Support Center in the children’s library.

The building, designed by Noll & Tam Architects of Berkeley, also is setting a new standard in environmentally sustainable design.  It will be a net-zero-energy facility, meaning it will be 100-percent energy self-sufficient.  It will be powered by 100 percent carbon free sources of electricity, and is expected to receive a LEED certified rating of Platinum from the U.S. Green Building.

To conserve drinking water, the new library and surrounding facilities will capture, store and filter rain water for future non-potable uses such as flushing toilets and irrigation.

The new library will open for business and regular operation next month following completion of final interior construction details, and fire and life-safety system testing, training and certification.

Construction of the 21^st Century Library and Community Learning Center and future Heritage Plaza on the site of the old main library is being funded through Hayward Measure C, the ½-cent local sales-tax approved by Hayward voters in June 2014.

For more information on the grand opening celebration and dedication ceremony, visit the Calendar of Events on the City of Hayward website.