In-person library services are coming back to Chico a little more than a month after the deadly shooting at the city's main branch.
A temporary satellite location will open Aug. 3 at 196 Memorial Way near Chico Junior High School off The Esplanade, close to downtown.
It will be smaller than the main library but will keep the library's regular hours while the main location undergoes previously planned renovations.
Butte County Library Director Misty Wright told county supervisors July 28 that services will be limited.
“We do anticipate having some book browsing,” Wright said. “People can come and pick up their holds. We will have a few public computers available.”
Children's story times are also planned, and Wright said more programs could be added in the future.
Security guards will be at the temporary location, a county press release said.
Next steps for the main library
The timeline is also becoming clearer for when Chico's main library could reopen.
Wright said county officials expect it to be operating again in 2027.
“The proposed construction should take about a year, so we’re anticipating opening next fall,” Wright said.
Supervisors unanimously approved a roughly $9.2 million contract with Chico-based Ginno Construction.
The funding largely comes from a California State Library grant and will pay for improvements at the Chico and Oroville library branches.
At the Chico branch, plans include improved disability access, electrical upgrades, redesigned children's and teen areas, and new study rooms.
The Oroville branch will also get infrastructure improvements and other modernizations.
The main Oroville location closes on Aug. 3, and a temporary location opens on Aug. 18 at 205 Mira Loma Dr., STE 10, in Oroville.
