Altadena’s Bob Lucas Memorial Library Reopens Saturday After Major Renovation

The Bob Lucas Memorial Library will reopen on Saturday, August 16, marking the completion of a $4.5 million renovation that significantly expands the facility’s capabilities.

The library, located at 2659 Lincoln Avenue in Altadena, emerges from a 16-month transformation that adds approximately 1,000 square feet of space and introduces new community-focused amenities.

“We are hustling this week as we prep for the reopening of our branch, the Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center on Saturday, Aug. 16,” the Altadena Library District announced.

The renovation, funded by Measure Z—which was approved by 72.35% of registered district voters in November 2020—has dramatically improved the library’s infrastructure.

The project includes a dedicated children’s area, a new literacy center with classroom and tutoring rooms, upgraded electrical and mechanical systems, and an outdoor reading garden.

The facility is now fully accessible to all Altadena residents.

The grand reopening will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., with tribal councilwomen of the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation beginning the event with a prayer and land acknowledgment.

“Local elected officials, community partners, members of the Bob Lucas family, and library leaders will commemorate the historical importance of this library on the west side of Altadena and the vision for how it will support the community as it rebuilds,” the library district stated.

Following the ceremony, the community is invited to a celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring music, food, face painting, and crafts for all ages.

The library will officially open for regular hours on Monday, August 18.

The renovation honors the legacy of Robert “Bob” Lucas, a journalist who moved to Altadena in 1971 and recognized the critical need for a library on the west side of the community.

Lucas believed that “personal freedom could be achieved through reading” and was a strong advocate for accessible library services.

The project comes in the wake of the devastating Eaton Fire in January, which destroyed over 9,400 structures in Altadena and killed 19 people, making the library’s renewal particularly poignant for the community’s rebuilding efforts.

Saturday, August 16. Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., community celebration 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bob Lucas Memorial Library, 2659 Lincoln Avenue, Altadena. For more information, contact the Altadena Library District.