City of Victorville leaders break ground on new library

Victorville will soon have a new public library, city officials announced.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday for the new library that will be located in the clubhouse of the Green Tree Golf Course. City Council members faced windy conditions as they used gold shovels during the groundbreaking event.

“For some time now, we have wanted to expand library services for our growing community,” City Manager Keith Metzler said. “We couldn’t be happier to begin work on the new Victorville City Library here at the Green Tree Golf Course.”

The library comes courtesy of a $9 million grant from the state of California, which funds the addition of 5,094 square feet to the existing building on Green Tree Boulevard, east of Seventh Street.

Library Master Plan

Years ago, city staff conducted a Library Master Plan that determined a city the size of Victorville should have a larger library, Metzler said.

Securing the clubhouse as the location for the new library was the final piece the city needed to bring the vision to life, Metzler said.

“Not only are we saving the cost of a complete ground-up construction, we are maximizing the beauty of this building, while creating a community hub for learning and recreation,” he added.

Old library

At nearly 8,000 square feet, the current Victorville City Library was built in 1971 and is located on Circle Drive on the north side of an old shopping center that has mostly been demolished.

Victorville took over the operation of the Circle Drive-based library from San Bernardino County in 2006, and the idea of a new facility has been proposed several times in recent years.

City Librarian Arnold Castro told the Daily Press that he’s excited about the city’s vision for a new and larger library, which will offer more services and program for the community.

Construction details

Construction of the new library will include a rehab of the inside of the clubhouse and the addition of square footage to the back of the building.

“When complete, the new Victorville City Library will be more than double the size of our current library,” he said. “We will maximize this new space to increase programming.”

The new library will include expanded areas for a children’s library, a dedicated maker’s room, and a multipurpose room for classes and private meetings, he said.

“Teens will have a space of their own to read, study, engage, and relax,” Metzler said. “Adults will have a sitting area by the fireplace, and we will take advantage of the outside patio to offer outdoor programming and reading space.”

The new library will be a space for everyone to “learn, reflect, and be inspired,” he said.

City spokeswoman Sue Jones told the Daily Press the project should be completed between October and December of 2025.

“For the most part, golf services will not be hampered during construction,” Jones said. “The only thing that will not be available is the putting green.”

‘The heart of our community’

Mayor Liz Becerra told the audience that the library provides much more than free access to books.

“It’s the heart of our community,” Becerra said. “Our city library brings residents of all ages together to learn and develop new ideas.”

She shared that the library offers activities like Mommy & Me classes, computer workshops, craft classes, and Teen Tech Space that spark a lifelong curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

“This passion will continue in this new, more modern space,” Becerra said. “Our new library is possible because of tremendous collaboration and resources.”

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Harriman told the Daily Press that he feels the golf course is a fantastic location for the new library.

“The building has been virtually empty for two years other than the pro shop,” Harriman said. “The building also is already owned by the city which enables more of the grant money to be spent on the library itself rather than purchasing property in a different location.”

Becerra thanked the city staff, the Friends of the Library, and the city’s Library Team for their tremendous contributions.

The mayor expressed her gratitude for the state grant, which was administered by the state librarian.

“With the team and the resources, our vision is becoming a reality,” the mayor said.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: City of Victorville leaders break ground on new library