The long-awaited renovation of the Benjamin Franklin Branch Library broke ground on Saturday, kicking off a more than five-year effort.
Councilwoman Ysabel joined leaders, community members and library staff for a ceremony and resource fair outside the library, marking a major milestone for a project that has faced multiple delays and funding setbacks.
The $5.5 million renovation is expected to be completed in 2027, about three years behind schedule. It will be handled by the Department of General Services, with the construction contract set to be awarded on Nov. 13, according to the Bureau of Engineering’s website.
Jurado has pushed for accountability and transparency around the project since taking office. In one of her first motions, she requested a report detailing setbacks and project updates.
“This is a key city service that is a lifeline for Angelenos, especially working-class folks of color and Boyle Heights deserves it just as much as anybody else,” Jurado said in an interview with Boyle Heights Beat.
Here’s a look at how the project has evolved and what’s to come.
Maria Valenzuela, daughter of Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela, reads a book to children on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo by Luis Cano for Boyle Heights Beat)
Why has the project taken so long?
The Benjamin Franklin Library first closed its doors to the public during the pandemic in 2020, like many other libraries throughout the city. But while other libraries reopened, the local branch remained closed after it was determined that it needed extensive renovations.
According to a city report, staffing shortages led to delays in the project’s original design phase. The most recent delay stemmed from a disruption in funding.
Originally, $2.2 million for the project was to come from the city’s decarbonization program for solar panels on the building. However, those funds were eliminated due to budget cuts under Mayor Karen Bass, according to the Bureau of Engineering, which oversees the planning and design of city infrastructure projects.
The project then had to go through a “value engineering” process to remain within the reduced budget, and a second design phase to reflect the updated funding for the project.
What’s coming with the new renovation?
Additions to the library include new carpets, self-lighting bookshelves, study rooms and furniture. Existing resources like the Adult Literacy Program – which helps adults with their reading abilities – and the New American Center – which helps residents with immigration needs – will have their own dedicated space. Self-checkout counters are also coming to the interior space.
The renovation will include repairs to structural issues, replacement of damaged windows and outdated furniture, energy-efficient LED lighting, a new study room, bilingual signage, and restroom upgrades to meet ADA requirements.
The parking lot will see resurfacing and restriping, a new entry gate to the lot from Chicago Street, and bike and EV charging stations. New shade trees, landscaping including native plants, and a demonstration garden will also be included in the exterior renovation.
A rendering of a renovated Benjamin Franklin Branch Library. (Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Engineering Architectural Division)
A rendering of a renovated Benjamin Franklin Branch Library. (Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Engineering Architectural Division)
A rendering of a renovated Benjamin Franklin Branch Library. (Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Engineering Architectural Division)
A rendering of a renovated Benjamin Franklin Branch Library. (Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Engineering Architectural Division)
What happened to the temporary bungalow?
The library’s temporary bungalow, which opened in 2022 to accommodate the needs of the community through book lending, printing and copying services during the soft-demolition phase, closed in August to make room for the start of the main building’s renovation work.
What services are available during the renovation ?
To fill the service gap during renovation, the LA Public Library staff, with support from Jurado’s office, will offer interim library services. Here’s where to them:
LA Public Library’s Street Fleet
Services: Library vans will stop to provide materials, fulfill patron holds, and answer reference questions. The library also began to host programs and workshops inside Boyle Heights City Hall.
Where: Boyle Heights City Hall (2130 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033)
When: Every Tuesday between 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Nearby branches will continue to serve as alternate hubs while the Benjamin Franklin Library remains closed. Materials checked out at the temporary library can be returned at any other L.A. Public Library branch. Tech2Go Chromebooks can be returned at the Stevenson or Lincoln Heights branch libraries.
Other nearby libraries
- Robert Louis Stevenson Branch Library
803 Spence Street, Los Angeles, CA 90023
2801 Wabash Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90033
- Libros Schmibros Lending Library
Street Fleet staff attend the Benjamin Franklin Branch Library groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo by Luis Cano for Boyle Heights Beat)
How can I get involved?
A community group, Friends of the Boyle Heights Libraries, was established in August as an effort to advocate for the reopening of Benjamin Franklin and the unique needs of the other two public library branches serving the neighborhood, Malabar and Stevenson.
Friends of Library groups are nonprofit organizations that work to increase community engagement with library services, provide volunteer support and advocate for the financial support of the branches they represent.
Although excited for the eventual reopening of the library, Iciar Rivera, the Boyle Heights resident behind the Friends group, said a lack of a reliable library space hurts the community and is long overdue.
“This [groundbreaking] is largely symbolic,” Rivera said. “This groundbreaking should have happened years ago.”
The group now has more than a dozen members and will be focused on securing grant funding to address the needs of all three library locations in Boyle Heights.