On Saturday, October 31, Sunnyvale gets its second public library. The Lakewood Branch Library and Learning Center at 760 Lakechime Drive is scheduled to hold its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music, a Maker Lab showcase, crafts and giveaways. Visitors who come in costume can stop by for a treat. Admission is free, and you don't need to register.
The city planned the building to be split roughly in half between library space and community space. The first programs on its calendar show that split in action. If you live north of 101, you're getting a library, and you're also getting a sewing room and a laser cutter a short trip from home.
One City, One Library, Until Saturday
For as long as most residents can remember, the Sunnyvale Public Library on Olive Avenue has been the city's only library. In 2024, San José Spotlight reported that the main library could be up to 30 minutes away by car for people in north Sunnyvale. It called the Lakewood project the city's first expansion of its main library services.
The Silicon Valley Voice traces the idea back to July 2012. That month, the City Council discussed a new library at a joint meeting with the Board of Library Trustees. Those discussions found that Lakewood was the only neighborhood where residents had to travel up to four miles to reach a public library.
From that meeting to Saturday's ribbon is a little over fourteen years. The final stretch included one more delay. The library first listed an August 29, 2026 opening and then marked it postponed until construction was finished. According to the Silicon Valley Voice, the holdups were window installation and the exterior stucco.
Three Public Agencies Built It Together
The way the building was paid for explains much of what's inside. The library is a partnership among the City of Sunnyvale, the Sunnyvale School District and the Fremont Union High School District. The Silicon Valley Voice reports that each district paid $3 million toward construction. Together they will cover a quarter of the annual operating costs. The building sits on Sunnyvale School District land near Lakewood Elementary School, and the district will lease that land to the city.
That arrangement is why "Learning Center" is in the name. San José Spotlight reported that the 2020 agreement with both districts helped fund dedicated space for elementary and high school students.
The project also came in under its early estimates. Original projections put construction at about $28 million. In May 2024, the City Council awarded Bobo Constructions a $23 million contract. Anderson Brulé Architects designed the building. A 2020 city report placed it on the site of the closed Lakewood Pool. The goal was to take as little open space from Lakewood Park as possible and to share existing parking instead of paving more.
The park next door stays a park. The library takes the spot where the pool used to be.
Half the Building Isn't Shelving
The city describes the finished building as more than 20,000 square feet, single-story and all-electric. It has study rooms, dedicated spaces for children and teens, and programs for all ages. San José Spotlight reported that superintendent of libraries Garrett Kuramoto described a split of roughly half traditional library and half community space, with some rooms able to change use. Planned programs went beyond story time to include language learning, cultural events and creation spaces.
Kuramoto explained the reasoning behind the project to San José Spotlight when the construction contract was awarded:
"It's been very clear to us for a long time that services are difficult to access for residents in North Sunnyvale."
The Maker Lab is where that community half becomes concrete. According to the city, it offers:
- A 3D printer
- A laser cutter
- Sewing machines
- A large-format printer
- Vinyl cutters
- Jewelry-making supplies
- Arts-and-crafts materials
Equipment like this is expensive to own and takes up space in a garage. Having it at a public building on Lakechime Drive changes what a free Saturday can look like for anyone with a costume to finish or a part to print. The Silicon Valley Voice adds that the learning center will run literacy and wellness activities.
The approved public art leans into the same theme. According to the Silicon Valley Voice, plans the city signed off on in 2024 called for an interior image of a child reading with a dragon. Outside, a forecourt mural of leaves would carry words, alongside three inkwell-and-quill sculptures. A community workshop was planned to choose words in languages spoken in the area. Those were the plans approved two years ago. Saturday will be the first chance to see how the forecourt actually turned out.
The First Programs Show What the Building Is For
A branch library usually announces itself with a storytime schedule. Lakewood's first November listings look different. As of this week, the library's November calendar lists two Lakewood programs.
- Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The grand opening, with live music, the Maker Lab showcase, crafts, giveaways and treats for visitors in costume.
- Monday, November 2, 10 to 11:30 a.m. The Lakewood Sewing Lab, for adults 18 and older. It's free and needs no registration. Bring your own fabric and projects. The library provides machines, thread and other supplies, first come, first served. The listing makes clear this is open sewing time, not a class, so there's no formal instruction.
- Thursday, November 5, 3 to 4 p.m. An Insect Discovery Lab for ages 6 to 11, led by Save Nature, with hands-on insect observation and identification. It's free, and no registration is required.
Neither of the first two programs is centered on books. One is for adults with a hemming job. The other is for kids who want to look at bugs. Both reflect the half of the building that isn't shelving. More listings will likely appear as the branch settles into a routine, so check the calendar before planning around a specific week.
Before You Head Over Saturday
A few details about the branch's day-to-day operation haven't been published yet, so it helps to know them before you plan a regular routine around it.
Hours. The library's locations page still lists Lakewood as "Future" and doesn't show its regular hours. A 2020 planning report proposed 48 hours a week with Sundays closed. That was a proposal, not a posted schedule. For comparison, the Olive Avenue main library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. Check the Sunnyvale Public Library site after opening day before counting on a weeknight visit.
Your library card. The library's card page says both Full Access and Limited Access cards can book a 3D printing appointment. That policy covers the library system as a whole. If you're planning a Maker Lab project at Lakewood, ask staff on opening day how booking works there.
Getting there. The 2020 plan called for the library to share existing parking on the site. One alternative is BEAM, the city's on-demand, door-to-door ride service. It launched August 18, is operated by Via, costs $3.50 a ride and goes anywhere in the city, as the Silicon Valley Voice reported.
The date itself. October 31 is the scheduled opening, and the August date already slipped once. The city's event page, posted after that postponement, says "The wait is officially over." A quick look at the city's event listing Saturday morning will confirm the day is still on.
The Mercury News pointed out that Mayor Larry Klein dressed as Willy Wonka at a city event in October 2024, and said there was no word yet on whether he'll do it again. Either way, costumes are encouraged for everyone.
Bill follows projects like the Lakewood branch across Sunnyvale. If you live near Lakechime Drive and want to know how your home stands in today's market, Bill Lister offers a free home valuation and consultation, and you can see more local coverage on the Sunnyvale neighborhood page.
