The Irvine City Council cleared a path forward this week for the city to create its own library system separate from the county’s.
Irvine has been a part of the Orange County Public Libraries system for decades, but recent disagreement between the city and the county foreshadowed an end to that arrangement.
Since a memorandum of understanding between the two governments expired in 2022, Irvine and county officials have been unable to agree on how to manage funds for local library services. The discord led Irvine to notify the county more than a year ago of its intent to withdraw from the regional library system. On Tuesday night, July 23, the City Council approved a plan to do just that.
“This seems like a really exciting step forward for our city as we grow,” Councilmember Mike Carroll said before a 4-0 vote in favor of creating an independent library system. Mayor Farrah Khan, the fifth councilmember, was absent from the meeting, but had Councilmember Larry Agran read a statement from her in support of the idea.
Before taking effect, the plan will also need approval this August from the OC Board of Supervisors. Then arrangements can begin for the transfer of the Katie Wheeler, Heritage Park and University Park branches to city control in summer 2025.
City staff say that by running its own library system, Irvine can “immediately double” its annual investment into library services. The new agreement, if ratified, means Irvine will retain 50% of a special property tax for libraries, resulting in what the city estimates will be more than $9 million per year moving forward. Currently, city staff say the county spends about half that — between $4 million and $5 million per year — on library services in Irvine.
The county would also transfer its collections circulating through Irvine — around 167,000 items — to the city, as well as furniture, fixtures and equipment at the Heritage Park and University Park libraries. Irvine would hire a city librarian to lead the transition planning and dedicate an additional $600,000 to assist with implementing the transition. Still, city officials expect the Heritage and University parks locations would close from mid-May through June next year as the county moved out.
Irvine officials said no county library staff members would lose their jobs due to the deal. The city also agrees to a five-year lease of the University Park branch, which, unlike the other two branches, is owned by the county.
Irvine councilmembers said the city’s library facilities warrant improvement, and staff assured them this plan enables Irvine to invest in its current branches and build new ones.
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Carroll called the University Park branch “outdated, for the most part, antiquated and rundown.” Councilmember Tammy Kim said Irvine’s libraries are currently “so crowded and really highly utilized.” And, Councilmember Kathleen Treseder said she’s been contacted by “a number of residents” and “none of them have said they are satisfied with the number and condition of our libraries.”
Several high schoolers attended the council meeting to express support for a new library system.
“When my family moved to Irvine, there was never any space at the libraries to study, and the facilities themselves were so run down that I began avoiding the libraries,” one student said. “The local library was no longer my safe haven.”
Staff say their goal is for Irvine to eventually have a main library and several branches.
“The plan would absolutely be to expand the city’s public library systems,” said Chris Slama, director of community services.
He said the city is eyeing a Great Park location, as well as expanding and modernizing the Heritage Park library and replacing the University Park branch with one at that park on city-owned land.
“Initial signs are pointing to having one main library,” Slama said, “and up to four to six branches throughout the city.”
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