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Billie Jean King Main Library Grand Opening

Ceremony and Celebration will Mark the Opening of the New Billie Jean King Main Library

On Saturday, September 21, the City of Long Beach will celebrate the grand opening of the new Billie Jean King Main Library. The event, which is open to the public, will open at 9:30 a.m., with the official program starting at approximately 10:15 a.m. The celebration will take place on Broadway between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Avenue. Please RSVP to the event.

The Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) replaces the Main Library, which closed earlier this year. The new 92,500-square-foot building is a LEED Gold-certified building of glass and wood, and includes space for about 300,000 books as well as a Family Learning Center, the Center for Adaptive Technology, a Veterans Resource Center, study rooms, meeting rooms, a special collections area, and an extensive children's area with a storytelling space, an art studio and more. The library's programs will include financial planning, a citizenship corner, job skills training and literacy services.

EVENT: City of Long Beach Library Grand Opening 
DATE: September 21, 2019 
TIME: 9:30 a.m. – Noon 


BROADWAY STREET CLOSURE: Broadway between Cedar Ave. – Pacific Ave.
BROADWAY STREET CLOSURE TIME: 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Click here for street closures and detour information
NO PARKING SIGNS: 4:00 a.m.  – 2:00 p.m. 

PROGRAM

9:30 a.m.  Public event opens: Kids activities, food trucks, music, library tabling

10:15 a.m. Program commences

  • Hughes Middle School students present U.S., California and Long Beach flags
  • Los Cerritos Elementary School students lead the pledge of allegiance

SPEAKERS

  • Robert Garcia, Long Beach Mayor
  • Jeannine Pearce, District 2 Councilmember 
  • Glenda Williams, Director of the Long Beach Public Library 
  • Dale Bonner, Plenary Executive Chairman 
  • Barbara Schwerin, Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board President  
  • Billie Jean King 

11 a.m.  The program concludes and the library is open for business!

*all times approximate*