At the start of the pandemic in 2020, the Benjamin Franklin Library closed its doors to the public like many others throughout the city. But while other libraries reopened, the local branch remained closed after it was determined it needed extensive renovations.
Since December 2022, a temporary bungalow in the parking lot has provided books, workshops and limited computer access to residents. The main building at the historic branch was set to reopen in early 2024. Now, library officials say it won’t reopen until 2026 due to renovation delays.
Rebecca Wilson, a public relations specialist with Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), said the extended closure is in place “to ensure compliance with design standards for a historically significant building, while also meeting the city’s decarbonization requirements.”
Plans for Benjamin Franklin include structural upgrades, adjustments to building egress, enhancements to the facility’s electrical system and parking lot improvements, Wilson shared. There will also be new carpets, furniture, bookshelves, study rooms, updated technology and a new roof.
Senior Librarian and Branch Manager Lupie Leyva grew up in the neighborhood and has fond memories of going to the library as a child. She says the library staff is doing its best to continue being a resource for the community, even with the bungalow’s limited space.
The temporary library located in the Benjamin Franklin parking lot. Photos by Alex Medina and Kate Valdez.
“It’s well used, we only have three computers in here because that’s all we can fit. They’re used every day,” Leyva said. “Even though we have a smaller collection of books here, we have good circulation of books and statistics for our size.”
Boyle Heights resident Andi Xoch says having the neighborhood library closed for over half a decade is unacceptable. She sees the temporary library as a hazard and liability because of its size. “How do you go from fitting over a hundred people to just a dozen comfortably? Where are we supposed to go?”
Xoch, who also grew up in the neighborhood like Leyva, recalls many memories reading and enjoying programming in what she described as her “little oasis.” She’s saddened that children growing up nearby aren’t getting that experience.
“It hurts to even think about students who live in cramped homes and don’t have a quiet, peaceful place nearby to do their homework,” said Xoch, whose business, Latinx with Plants, is only a few blocks away from the library. “It’s hard enough to be a youth in an underserved community… it’s damaging to not have that space available and that needs to be acknowledged. I feel really angry.”
Leyva shared that the temporary library will close mid-to-late next year, which means no services will be available at the branch until the main building’s reopening in 2026.
The city should have temporarily housed the library inside a government building or leased a location. WE don’t seem to receive the same priority as other districts.