The Bay Shore Neighborhood Library at 195 Bay Shore Ave. went dark again this week, closing its doors starting Monday for a new round of accessibility and restroom construction that is expected to keep the branch shuttered until early 2027. For a library that only reopened last year after a lengthy renovation, it is another extended disruption for patrons who rely on the small, mid-century branch near the water.
What the Project Covers
According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, the city says the closure will create a more accessible, inclusive and functional space for both visitors and staff. The existing restrooms will be renovated into fully accessible, all-gender facilities as part of work the city is undertaking under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The scope of work goes well beyond the restrooms themselves. Per the same report, crews will relocate the library's electrical panel to support the updated layout, modify hallway and office walls, upgrade lighting and plumbing fixtures, replace interior finishes, and install a new drinking fountain. City officials say the combined effect will be to improve accessibility, modernize aging infrastructure and better support community needs.
Funded Through Measure A
The project is being paid for through Measure A, the sales tax Long Beach voters approved in 2016 to fund public infrastructure and public safety services, the Signal Tribune notes. Voters later approved extending that tax indefinitely in 2020. The City of Long Beach also lists the restroom project as part of the Elevate '28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, a broader initiative aimed at upgrading parks, community facilities, mobility access and streets across the city.
A Branch With a Long Renovation History
Bay Shore first opened in 1959 and occupies a 6,900-square-foot building, according to Long Beach Post News. The branch underwent a previous renovation that the Post reported began in August 2023 and included an ADA-compliant entrance ramp with automatic front doors, energy-efficient windows, new carpeting and updated shelving in the children's area — while the Press-Telegram's account of the library's history describes it as having been closed for repairs since fall 2023. That earlier $2 million renovation was funded through $1.3 million in Measure A revenue and $660,000 in state money through Assembly Bill 32, the Post reported, with the city saying at the time that the upgrades would provide a more welcoming, accessible and engaging environment for patrons. The branch reopened after those repairs in 2025, and the Long Beach Watchdog has described the renovated building as more energy efficient while retaining its mid-century character.
Where to Go in the Meantime
During the new closure, the Signal Tribune reports that patrons can still pick up library materials in the afternoons and attend weekly story times for children and families at off-site locations. Residents can also use three nearby branches: the Alamitos Neighborhood Library at 1836 E. Third St., the Brewitt Neighborhood Library at 4036 E. Anaheim St., and the Los Altos Neighborhood Library at 5614 E. Britton Drive. A City of Long Beach press release indicates Alamitos Library may offer six-day service during the Bay Shore closure period.
No firm reopening date has been announced beyond the city's statement, reported by the Press-Telegram, that the closure is expected to last until early 2027. For now, the branch that reopened with new windows and an updated entranceway just last year sits empty once more, as Long Beach presses ahead with another round of accessibility work funded by the same voter-approved tax.
