Ygnacio Valley Library Temporarily Closed for Major Improvements
Note to local parents, students, teachers, and library lovers: The Ygnacio Valley Library at 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek, is turning an exciting new page. The popular neighborhood branch is now temporarily closed through May 31, 2027, while crews carry out a sweeping infrastructure overhaul focused on climate control, safety, and energy efficiency.
The project is part of Contra Costa County Library's broader push to modernize its facilities countywide. At the Ygnacio Valley branch, this means addressing critical structural and interior building systems.
The Ygnacio Valley Library, a popular neighborhood destination, is temporarily closed through May 2027 for structural and systems upgrades. [Photo credit East Bay Times]
Workers will strip out the aging HVAC system and replace it with an all-electric, energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system built to keep the library comfortable in every season. A new roof will go up to safeguard the building for decades to come. And the electrical and lighting systems throughout the branch will be rebuilt from the ground up, swapping outdated wiring and fixtures for modern, energy-efficient upgrades.
This renovation is made possible through dedicated funding from Measure X — the half-cent countywide sales tax passed in November 2020 that provides local funds for local priorities — and with additional support from Contra Costa County Library reserves.
The 42,000-SF Walnut Creek Library, located downtown Walnut Creek, opened in 2010, replacing the much smaller 9,500-SF building. [Photo courtesy Walnut Creek Library]
Library services aren’t stopping, they’re shifting. During the closure, the book drop and parking lot are closed; all uncollected holds have been moved to the downtown Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek. Books and other physical materials can be borrowed or returned at any open Contra Costa County Library branch, including the Walnut Creek, Clayton, Concord and Pleasant Hill libraries.
Anticipating extra foot traffic due to the Ygnacio Valley branch closure, the downtown Walnut Creek branch has expanded its hours of operation by four a week — from 52 to 56 hours — to accommodate the increased demand.
Additionally, with Ygnacio Valley's ballot drop box out of commission, the City has installed a new drop box at Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane, in time for the November 3, 2026, statewide general election.
The Ygnacio Valley Library, also known as the Thurman G. Casey Memorial Library, opened its doors on September 15, 1975. The site, formerly a walnut orchard, was donated in 1969 by Nellie G. Casey in honor of her husband. The library was established as a joint project between Contra Costa County, the City of Walnut Creek, the City of Concord, and the Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library. In 2004, the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and Contra Costa County Library remodeled the library’s interior to give it a refreshed and renewed look and feel. Long a popular neighborhood destination and valued resource for local students, the Ygnacio Valley Library is now poised for its next chapter.
Look for updates about the library’s grand reopening and big reveal in the May 2027 issue of The Shadelands Scene.
Contra Costa County Library
Library Administration
777 Arnold Drive, Suite 210, Martinez
925-608-7700
800.984.4636
