The quiet halls of Heritage Park Library have been given a lively makeover: It is now a place not only for books, but also community connection and creativity.
On May 16, the County of Orange closed Heritage Park Library, transferring ownership to the City of Irvine in July. On Aug. 3, the library officially reopened as one of the first branches of the Irvine Public Library system. With direct oversight from the City of Irvine, Heritage Park Library is now able to better reflect the city’s needs.
“The goal is simple: to create a library experience that is uniquely Irvine and better serves our residents now and into the future,” Teen Services Librarian Christany Edwards-Lopez said. “By operating our own system, we can grow collections that highlight the interests of Irvine readers, expand programs for all ages and introduce new services that make our libraries more engaging and accessible.”
Stepping inside the new Heritage Park Library feels like entering a completely transformed space. Fresh coats of paint, new carpeting and modern furniture give the building a vibrant feel. Additional cubicles enhance the studying experience, and old tables have been replaced. Besides the physical upgrades, the library is implementing new Irvine Public Library cards, books and events.
“Another fun thing we have to offer is our upcoming Library of Things collection, featuring kits that can be checked out to help you explore a new hobby, like our Dungeons & Dragons kits, or new technologies, like our Cricut kits,” Edwards-Lopez said.
As a city-owned facility, the library is able to hold more free events for adults, teens and children, such as anime screenings, crafts, study sessions, and STEAM activities.
For teens specifically, the Heritage Park and University Park libraries host “Teen Tuesday” activities every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. Furthermore, fans of “KPop Demon Hunters” can attend Heritage Park’s special program Oct. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., which will include a trivia contest, themed snacks and a cosplay fashion show.
The additions to the Irvine Public Library system don’t stop there: The City of Irvine will take ownership of the Katie Wheeler Library from OCPL in 2026. There are also plans to add a new library at the Great Park.
“We’re very excited for our library system to continue to grow,” Edwards-Lopez said. “[We] are actively gathering community feedback from public forums, surveys and outreach events to assist in our future library planning and help our Irvine Public Library system become the best that it can be.”To submit feedback or learn more about the library, visit irvinepubliclibrary.org. For more information about future library events, visit yourirvine.org.
