{"id":5331,"date":"2026-07-24T15:10:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5331"},"modified":"2026-07-24T15:10:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:10:24","slug":"libraries-are-here-to-say-how-the-campbell-library-renovation-is-keeping-libraries-relevant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5331","title":{"rendered":"Libraries are here to say: how the Campbell Library renovation is keeping libraries relevant"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Campbell Library reopened its doors in early May after a renovation, eager patrons checked out more than 5,000 books, DVDs, CDs and other materials from the mostly brand-new collection on the first day alone.<\/p>

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Originally built in 1975, the library, located in downtown Campbell, was the last in the 8-library Santa Clara County Library District system to undergo a significant overhaul. The new space has floor-to-ceiling windows that let natural light shine in and more community and meeting spaces than the original. The children\u2019s section now features a play space, which the library district has increasingly incorporated into its different branches, to draw families with children into the library and help them build early literacy skills.<\/p>\n

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The library\u2019s reopening comes at a time when Campbell Community Librarian Nichole King said the county\u2019s libraries are \u201cbusier than ever,\u201d and libraries are seeing a resurgence in a post-pandemic world that lacks \u201cthird places\u201d for people to gather which aren\u2019t their home or work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe library is that kind of last free indoor space for whatever you might need,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n

The Bay Area News Group caught up with King to learn more about the library\u2019s renovation and how the district continues to evolve. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n

Q: <\/strong>What\u2019s your favorite part about being a librarian?<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> One thing I heard a lot, even when e-books became really popular, was that libraries were not going to be relevant anymore \u2014 people weren\u2019t going to want to read regular books. People aren\u2019t going to want to go to the library. Libraries are going to shut down. So I think my favorite thing about working at the library is it always will be relevant. It\u2019s kind of like a big ha-ha to all those people. I like the library\u2019s ability to adapt \u2014 to pivot to whatever the community is in need of at that moment. So for example, maybe physical book circulation is down a little bit, well maybe what we need to do is put more money into e-books. Or maybe we don\u2019t need as much quiet study space because people like to collaborate more, so we have more meeting rooms. My favorite thing about working at the library is its ability to adapt to whatever the community needs and stay relevant.<\/p>

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Q:<\/strong> How do you keep the library relevant in a time when people were expecting library patronage to decrease?<\/p>\n