As a part of the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), The Los Angeles County’s Fourth District Supervisorial Office of Janice Hahn allocated $24,063,000 to five public library refurbishment projects in order to address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and invest in infrastructure in communities experiencing economic hardships. The funds will be distributed across these library projects as follows: Maywood Library ($1,030,000); Lynwood Library ($4,158,000); Bell Library ($3,235,000); Leland R. Weaver Library ($1,255,000); and Huntington Park Library ($14,385,000). The allocation for the SD4 Library Improvements projects was approved by the Board on November 10, 2022.
The five refurbishment projects will improve infrastructure by providing upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms; enhanced and energy-efficient LED lighting (both inside the libraries and exterior areas); automatic entrance doors; additional wi-fi communication coverage; new teen group study rooms for enhanced learning opportunities; additional computer stations to more-readily provide access to information; new laptop vending machines which will allow patrons to check out laptops to be used at home; upgraded community meeting rooms with modern audio/visual technology; and new flooring, painting, and furniture throughout. These projects will help alleviate and address learning and educational loss, barriers to access and opportunities, gaps in educational achievement, and impacts of distance learning that have emerged or exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
LA County Library will work with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to select an Architectural/Engineering team and begin a process to prepare scoping documents for each library. The selection of the design team will be done by choosing a pre-qualified firm that has experience with similar projects. Following the preparation and approval of the scoping documents, a design contract will be awarded to fully develop plans and specifications. The construction of these projects will be performed by pre-qualified Job Order Contractors based on pre-negotiated construction labor and materials pricing.