As you know, in the heart of Contra Costa County sits Concord, a city with more than 125,000 residents, a vibrant and diverse population, and unfortunately, one of the most neglected libraries in the entire county system. While surrounding cities have invested in sleek, modern, spacious public libraries over the past two decades, Concord residents are still being told to settle for a facility that’s outdated, undersized, and unfit for a city of its size.
Let’s start with the numbers. The Concord Library, located on Salvio Street near downtown, was built in 1959. It’s around 20,000 square feet—a decent size, perhaps, if Concord had 20,000 residents. But the city has over 125,000 people today. That’s less than 0.17 square feet per resident, and it shows: overcrowded study areas, limited public meeting rooms, outdated infrastructure, stained ceilings, and a lack of flexible programming space. Now, compare that to Pleasant Hill, a city with just 35,000 residents. In 2022, Pleasant Hill opened a brand new, $24 million library with approximately 25,000 square feet of usable space. That’s 0.71 square feet per resident—over four times the per-capita library space of Concord. And they did it without being the largest city in the county. Then there’s Lafayette, a city with fewer than 25,000 residents. The Lafayette Library and Learning Center, opened in 2009, spans about 30,000 square feet, offering a sprawling campus of collaborative learning, event space, and modern technology. That’s an astounding 1.2 square feet per resident, seven times more library space per person than Concord. Even Walnut Creek, with roughly 70,000 residents, has a modern, 42,000-square-foot library that opened in 2010. That’s 0.6 square feet per resident, triple what Concord has, despite Concord having nearly double the population.
Concord’s library is underperforming because Contra Costa County simply hasn’t prioritized it. Despite overseeing the library system, the county has spent years funneling funding, architectural talent, and public attention toward smaller, more politically connected communities. Lafayette got the “Learning Center.” Pleasant Hill got a brand-new facility complete with a makerspace, children’s wing, and event-ready community rooms. Concord got some new carpet and a fresh coat of paint. The difference? Other cities showed up with the political muscle and funding partnerships to push projects through. Concord, on the other hand, has been repeatedly passed over—either due to a lack of leadership or lack of will.
Meanwhile, Concord residents are stuck trying to host events in cramped meeting rooms, send their kids to storytime in corners barely bigger than a hallway, and navigate library shelves that are barely full. A Modern City Deserves a Modern Library. But in Concord? Residents still check out books from a building designed during the Eisenhower administration. A city of over 125,000 is still functioning on mid-20th century infrastructure while county officials sing the praises of every shiny new project in towns with a fraction of the need.
QUESTION: Do you think Concord needs a new library? If so – where do you think it should be located?
The Concord library looks the same as it did when I went there in the 70s. That being said, most people just check out their books and leave. Most of the people hanging out in the libraries these days are homeless. If Concord wants a new library, do what has to be done to get one.
Concord does NOT need a new library !
Already has been earthquake upgraded and has unique architecture.
An isn’t there a woke fantasy city would like to spend money on ? ? ?
Perhaps the city of Concord demonstrating fiscal responsibility?
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I love public libraries but it’s not always clear that their mission creep fully aligns with the needs of their communities as a whole. Frequently, the creep that I have observed is driven by the agenda of a minority of the community or even a strong willed individual. Despite the claims of “seeking public input” it’s not a particularly democratic process.
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Concord’s library is interesting in that it’s next to the city hall meaning that public meeting rooms can be used for both city and library functions.
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As Concord is spread out I wish they had more branch libraries and that the branches were located near or even within middle and/or high schools. The Pleasant Hill library is next to the Pleasant Hill Middle School and as a result, the library is a great and safe place for the kids to go after school. As it’s near the school and in a residential neighborhood events for younger children are popular. Parents are already in the area as part of living there and that their middle school age child would be next door.
I agree!
We should have smaller libraries that are spread out throughout the cities. Other libraries could also be near senior centers, or parks — like it is in Walnut Creek.
Two things. One, the library is a homeless day camp. Two, there’s nothing wrong with not having new modern glass and steel and stucco buildings looking like a prison. Just like the new apartments across from safeway on willow pass, total prison aesthetic. Like calm down with the open air prison please
those apartments are ugly and stupid. They do look like a prison and the balconys are a joke what is there to look at right there lol the view sucks and they will be hella expensive im sure 3k a month. Also the parking is a joke one crash at the exit/entrance and its going to be a nightmare getting out of there or worse if theres a fire or disaster can you imagine everyone trying to drive or run out of there at once lol.
Safeway will be their parking lot because every apartment will have 15 people in it.
A library’s primary purpose is as a place where people can access books – not host events.
You can get any book available in Contra Costa transferred to Concord. So the critique here is mostly about the creation of meeting spaces.
This should be funded separately from the library. And in times of financial downturn, it need not be prioritized.
I am a homeowner who spends lots of time at libraries. Many of us readers belong to book clubs that meet at libraries, attend talks at libraries, and take our children/grandchildren to events at libraries. Libraries are welcoming spaces for our community, not just a place to pick-up/return books
The Concord City Council primarily focuses on increa$ing its own $tature.
Everything else is irrelevant to them.
While Concord does need a new library building, Concord library staff does a tremendous job of providing a wonderfully diverse assortment of programs and services for our community. Dare I say the Concord community at large needs to do a better job at stepping up to support our library.
The location is fine. However, it needs an expansion. My idea is to build a tall building to accommodate all departments from the city hall. Allow the library to expand into the saved space; maybe add another floor to the library. A parking garage to share between the library and city hall.
Any money Concord gets is just to give themselves pay raises.
I hate libraries and didnt know people still used them.
As I recall, Concord tried to get the funds to build a new library many years ago, but came up short of the required 2/3 vote (only a few percentage points).
Clearly, given the size of our population, Concord should have a bigger library.
That being said, I am impressed by what our librarians are able to do with so little!!!
Concord’s 200 k population is like getting in an elevator with 11 people already in it if you need to do anything outside the house.
I know this is not the topic nor the question, but I am fully sold on the Pleasant Hill library.
There is a lot of wasted space. It should have been two stories instead of one.
Also, both the Pittsburg and Antioch libraries need to be updated. Pittsburg is the up and coming Richmond so perhaps having a better library could help improve their community.
The women who work at the Pittsburg library seem to dread when it gets dark early because they give the announcement that the library is closing 30 minutes before closing time. It seems that they cannot wait to get everyone out and go home.
A two or more level library, or any building, creates more hiding spots for mischief meaning more staffing is needed. They are also more expensive to build as you now need an elevator plus the square footage taken up by the stairwells. Elevators and stairs are an automatic barrier for those with mobility issues.
There is a lot of riff-raff in the Concord library. I saw a security guard sitting in the library with his nose stuck in his cellphone.
Chris,
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At least he was awake when you were there, ofter it’s not the case.
People read in Concord? That’s what I thought one Saturday morning in the 1990s when I went to Tower Books and the parking lot was full. I went in and got what I wanted and as I was paying glanced over the to the room and saw Ray Bradbury signing books. Anyone here attended that event?
Concord’s library is the same size (& condition) as Pinole’s–And Pinole has 1/10th of Concord’s population.
They City of Concord is waiting for Brookfield, the Master Developer of the former CNWS, to build a new library as a public benefit for being given the opportunity to develope the property.
Indeterminate. Most Grade schoolers today possess a college level education. The location is antique.
California scores poorly in education.
Perhaps it’s the location.
Not even remotely close to reality. US is dead last in performance but first on expenses regarding education. Today’s children are much more sheltered and can’t hold a conversation because their faces are glued to that little black box!
Yeah, me too. I’m turning 3 next month!
Save us $25+ millions. Don’t build a new library. The current building is fine.
I would rather build a new state of tha art library with re-directed funds from supporting illegals and DEI initiatives. Better use of tax dollar for the community.