Altadena Breaks Ground On Main Library Renovation

Nearly six decades after it first opened its doors, the Altadena Main Library is beginning a new chapter.

Community members, elected officials and library leaders gathered Saturday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the library’s first major renovation since 1967, a project supporters say will preserve its mid-century character while preparing it for generations to come.

“For nearly 60 years, this building has been more than just a place to borrow books,” said U.S. Rep. Judy Chu. “It’s been a gathering place, a learning center, and a cornerstone of civic life.”

The Boyd Georgi–designed building along Mariposa Street near Santa Rosa Avenue became an even more vital hub after the Eaton Fire, speakers said.

“After surviving the Eaton Fire, it stood as a symbol of resilience and hope for Altadena,” Chu said. In the aftermath, she noted, the library partnered with hundreds of organizations to connect residents with recovery resources, offered case management space for fire survivors, distributed prepaid hotspots and operated satellite services in local parks.

The renovation will address seismic safety and aging infrastructure while expanding public access. Plans call for nearly 20% more usable public space, new meeting and conference rooms, a maker space, a passport office and expanded outdoor areas. A new entryway and elevator will make the building fully accessible.

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez called the project “a reaffirmation of the library’s enduring role in all of our lives.”

“With new spaces for gathering, learning, and creativity, the library will remain a welcoming haven for everyone,” Pérez said. She and Assemblymember John Harabedian previously secured $3.6 million in state funding for the project.

Harabedian, who said he has been visiting the library since childhood, acknowledged that the building “looks the exact same as it did when I was a kid.”

“The facelift was needed, the upgrades were needed,” he said. “This is really for the next generation of library users.”

Architect Mark Schumann of ABA Studios said the design team’s goal is not to reinvent the structure, but to preserve it.

“When you step into this library, it will be your library,” Schumann said. “You will recognize everything because our goal is not to change it, but to bring it into the reality of the next two or three generations.”

The ceremony also highlighted new named spaces within the renovated building, including the Thomas A. Tombrello Jr. and Sherstin Arusha Reading Pavilion, the Kathy Mahaffey Friends Bookstore, and the Anthony Mitchell Sr. and Justin Mitchell Children’s Area. Library Trustee Dr. Katie Clark described the Mitchell family’s deep connection to reading and said the redesigned children’s section will prioritize accessibility for wheelchair users.

“A bedrock principle of this renovation project from the very earliest days has been a commitment to making sure that absolutely every member of the community can use absolutely every space in our library easily and joyfully,” Clark said.

Altadena Library District Director Nikki Winslow called the moment bittersweet as the building closes temporarily for construction.

“The main library is far more than a building,” Winslow said. “It’s a gathering place, a safe haven, a center for learning, creativity, and connection.”

As the crowd gathered under a tent on a cool February morning, one speaker led attendees in a chant that echoed beyond the library lawn: “We love libraries.”

Reopening is projected for mid-2027 if work proceeds on schedule, according to district planning materials and related reporting.

For Altadena, the sentiment was less a slogan than a promise — that when the doors reopen, the landmark will remain both familiar and renewed.