ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The new Elk Grove Library will open its doors to the public Saturday, Oct. 10, following years of planning and renovations to transform a former retail building into a larger community library.

The city of Elk Grove and Sacramento Public Library will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the new library, 9260 Elk Grove Blvd. The library will officially open to the public at 11 a.m., with family-friendly entertainment, activities and refreshments planned as part of the grand opening celebration. 

The new 18,000-square-foot library occupies a former Rite Aid building and provides more space and amenities than the branch's previous location at 8900 Elk Grove Blvd.

New features include a dedicated children's area with an outdoor patio, an expanded teen area, a makerspace and a Library of Things collection. The building also includes three study rooms, a larger meeting room, new restrooms, expanded parking and a book locker. 

The relocation follows several years of planning prompted by the city's growth and limitations at the previous library.

A city study in 2018 found that the community had outgrown the existing branch. Elk Grove acquired the former Rite Aid property in 2021, and the City Council approved the project's schematic design in October 2023. Construction began in February 2025, and the city has since received a certificate of occupancy for the new facility. 

The project is supported by a combination of state and local funding. The city's current funding summary lists approximately $15.5 million for the project, including about $8.7 million in state grants, $1.3 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, approximately $2.1 million in library ownership and maintenance funding and about $3.3 million in library capital facilities fees. 

The former Elk Grove Library closed July 25 to allow Sacramento Public Library to move its collection and operations to the new facility. 

During the closure, residents have been directed to other Sacramento Public Library locations, including the Franklin Library. 

Visitors to the new library will also encounter a new piece of public art outside the building.

“Radiant Eddy,” a sculpture by artist Aaron T Stephan, was installed in the plaza earlier this year. The artwork is composed of 32 traditional streetlights arranged in a sweeping formation and honors Harriet Eddy, an educator and librarian who helped establish California’s county free library system and Elk Grove’s first library. 

The history of library service in Elk Grove dates to the early 1900s. 

The previous branch at 8900 Elk Grove Blvd. had served the community since 2006, but the city said its two-story layout, parking constraints and operating costs presented challenges as Elk Grove continued to grow. 

The Oct. 10 grand opening will mark the completion of the relocation and the beginning of public library service at the new Historic Main Street location.