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Stanislaus County to celebrate completion of Turlock Library
Turlock Library
The newly renovated Turlock Library, located at 550 Minaret Ave., will be celebrated at a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 9 (KRISTINA HACKER/The Journal).

Stanislaus County officials will be touting all the new features and additions to the newly constructed Turlock Library at a dedication ceremony on Aug. 9.

The Turlock Library, located at 550 Minaret Ave., will be celebrated at a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 9. The public is invited to attend in person, or to enjoy the livestream at www.stanislauslibrary.org of this event, to celebrate a larger, modern, safe library for Turlock area residents. The library will have its first day of operations on Aug. 10.

“As Chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and County Supervisor representing the Turlock community, I am thrilled with the successful completion of the beautiful new Turlock Library. As is our way, on time and under budget,” said Supervisor Vito Chiesa. “The Turlock community has waited a long time for this to happen and the Friends of the Turlock Library and their donors should be commended for their generosity making the new Library even more awesome. This is a great example of working together, with a shared purpose resulting in a new modern library and community center we can all enjoy for generations to come.”

The newly constructed and expanded library preserves the beautiful park-like setting that is so loved by the community. The new, 16,530-square-foot library features teen and children's areas, a community room, a makerspace, and more.

The Turlock Library expansion and renovation project budget is $12,795,302, with funding from Library Savings, Tobacco Endowment Funds, Public Facilities Fees, Deferred Maintenance Funds and General Funds. The dedicated sales tax for County-wide Library services have contributed to the savings for this project. The new facility was designed and constructed by LDA Architects, and Roebbelen Contractors, Dewberry Architects.

In addition, the Friends of the Turlock Public Library have raised more than $1 million to augment the library’s offerings and features.

“The fundraising campaign was incredibly successful and is a credit to the co-chairs, Jeani and John Ferrari who brought the community together to rally for a wonderful cause,” said FOTL President Pat Portwood. “Who would have thought that during a pandemic the campaign would raise $1.4 million, giving the library sustainability for the future?

“Through the very generous and caring community members the Friends of the Turlock Library were able to augment the furnishing, add a Makerspace, with a 3D printer, select masonry for the courtyard, enhance the larger children's library with a beautiful learning tree, provide a dedicated Teen room, comfortable seating and of course a community room, which previously had not existed,” Portwood said. “When asked what is my favorite augmentation it is impossible to select any one item. When you visit you will see why, it is the culmination of years of teamwork, perseverance and caring and I think you will walk in and go ‘wow.’”

“We are grateful for the Friends of the Turlock Library and their donors for their support, encouragement and generosity making this effort truly a remarkable feat,” said Stanislaus County Librarian Sarah Dentan.

Turlock’s first community library, a Carnegie library, was built in 1916 and served the community for more than 50 years. In 1968, the library moved to a new 10,000-square-foot Minaret Avenue location.

The new library will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The library will be closed on Friday and Sunday.