University Park Library: Why the Fuss? [Opinion]
After 18 months without a clear big picture, library conversations in Irvine appear to be devolving into a series of discrete district-based conversations. While honorable efforts to offer a system-level vision are in the works, the discussions they could shape (such as the future of University Park Library) are not waiting.
By Michaela González Montaner
In the summer of 2024 Irvine pulled out of the Orange County Public Library system on the promise of being able to create a “world class library operation” for Irvine. Eighteen months later, Irvine Public Library has launched successful day-to-day operations, but public-facing plans to build out the system are still unclear.
The good news first: Doors are open and bxooks are flowing at University Park Library and Heritage Park Library with Katie Wheeler Library to follow on March 7, 2026. It has been a big lift: hiring and training staff, rebuilding the collection, updating technology, expanding deskspace, and launching, optimizing, and increasing new and existing programming… the list goes on. For a system barely six months old, it is showing promise.
The matter of the future, however, remains unclear as a concrete, public-facing vision or plan for the aforementioned “world class library system” remains elusive.
Leased Libraries in Limbo
In the agreement for the transfer of library services between the County and City, Katie Wheeler Library was relinquished to the County, and University Park Library was assigned a 5-year lease with a view to relocate its services at the end of the term. At the time, no concrete plans to address either library’s service lapse were made public.
Public outcry ensued.
In February 2025, a short-term lease was approved for Katie Wheeler Library in response to a petition and other outreach. (It is slated to reopen Saturday, March 7.)
In April 2025, a feasibility study was ordered by the City Council. The process ran through early Fall and the results are summarized here. In short, maintaining the University Park or Katie Wheeler libraries was not presented as an option in the consultant’s final report. Instead, the feasibility study proposed a new build in Bill Barber Park to service the area. Nevertheless, in staff’s October 14 presentation of the feasibility study, City Librarian and Deputy Director of Library Services, Julie Zeoli, acknowledged the City “could also consider other options” including renewing leases with the County for Katie Wheeler and University Park libraries, or building a new University Park Library on the community center lot.
No commitments were made at that time.
Hope for University Park?
Later that Fall, Irvine Public Library issued a “Vision for Irvine Public Library Survey” (attachment). No mention of University Park Library was included in the survey and, even so, on December 3, 2025 Deputy Director Zeoli shared with library advocate, Allison Walter, that public support for the library came through so decisively in the survey that University Park Library was put back in the forthcoming strategic plan.
Nothing concrete followed, until January 2026. 
Councilmember Martinez-Franco at the January 27, 2026 Council Meeting requesting an update on University Park Library lease negotiations. Click here and jump to 00:45:45 to watch.
At the January 27, 2026 City Council Meeting, Councilmember Martinez-Franco inquired as to the status of a request she made of staff to begin lease negotiations for University Park Library with the county. (Jump to 00:45:45.) When no update was offered she prepared a motion to discuss evaluating a buyout with her Council colleagues at the following City Council meeting.
Evaluating a buyout will clarify the options for University Park Library, which so far include:
- closure (closing it and building a new library at Bill Barber Park);
- rebuilding (moving it to the University Park Community Center land); and
- renewing (continuing the $40,000/month lease with the County).
Vice Chair, Supervisor Katrina Foley’s District Director for Irvine, Adam Tallabas, addresses City Council at the February 10, 2026 Council Meeting. In his remarks he conveyed Supervisor Foley is committed to keeping University Park Library open to continue serving the community. Click here and jump to 04:55:00 to watch.
The motion passed unanimously on February 10, 2026. At that meeting, Vice Chair Supervisor Katrina Foley sent a representative to affirm her support for keeping University Park Library a library. (Jump to 04:55:00.) Staff will report back in 90 days (early May) with what, if any, details they can share regarding something as sensitive as a potential property negotiation.
Present Day
The uncertainty facing University Park Library has registered with patrons, neighbors, and advocates across the city. The community is coalescing around the Coalition to Save University Park Library, an informal group started by University Park patrons and neighbors, Lee Handy, Sandy Peck, Victory Allan, Allison Walters, and myself.
As we have conveyed many times, we appreciate that this is early days for the new library system. We applaud early efforts to improve facilities, collections, programs, and use of space, saying nothing of the public relations, administrative, human relations, and other financial activity going on behind the scenes. Nevertheless, in the wake of earlier moves to resign the library with no defined contingency plan, and in the absence of a clear plan for the library system more broadly, the community is uneasy.
To help make sense of it all, at the request of our coalition, Councilmember Martinez-Franco is hosting a Town Hall on Wednesday, March 3, from 6-8pm at University Park Community Center. It will be an opportunity for even more community members to learn about the status of University Park Library, to relay their vision for the future of the library to City officials, and for officials to tell the community what they can reasonably expect going forward.
Is This Really the Conversation We Should Be Having?
Yes… and no.
Speaking for myself only, it seems that after 18 months without a clear big picture, the library conversation has devolved into a series of discrete district-based conversations as opposed to a broader, resource- and equity-informed conversation about a library system. While well-intentioned efforts to offer a system-level vision are in the works by way of an ongoing strategic planning and upcoming master planning process, the realities those documents pertain to are unfolding in real time.
The separation from Orange County Public Library System and the promise of associated funds has triggered a wave of advocacy and entitlement across Irvine. Of course, this makes sense, Irvine libraries have been oversubscribed for some time. It should come as no surprise that communities are clamouring for much needed facilities, improvements, or (as is my community’s case) mere continuity of service.
Would it have been preferable to pull out of the library system with a Master Plan in place, uniting the City behind shared priorities and timelines? I think so. But that is not the path we started on.
That said, I remain hopeful.
Councilmember Kathleen Treseder at the February 10, 2026 Council Meeting introduced a motion in support of establishing a Library Advisory Committee to provide the city “close advice”. Click here and jump to 04:15:30 to watch.
Thanks to a motion advanced by Councilmembers Treseder, Go, Liu, and Martinez-Franco, stakeholders could soon be engaged in a Library Advisory Committee. (Jump to 04:15:30.) If it delivers on its promise, the committee will ensure a rigorous, ongoing exchange between staff and the community. This is forecasted to give way to a clear set of shared priorities and a delegation committed to socializing it throughout the community.
Staff will report back on its formation in early April. With any luck, it could be rolling shortly thereafter. Paired with the Master Planning process set to begin this summer, much needed clarity and coordination could well be around the corner.
Disclaimer: All opinions published by Irvine Watchdog are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Irvine Watchdog or any of our other volunteers or contributors.
