Fresno community members are hoping and planning to build a new library in the Tower District. The project is currently under conversation and dates for construction and opening are to be determined when plans are finalized.

The Gillis branch of the Fresno Public Library moved from the tower district to its current location on West Dakota. Residents of the district have been without easily accessible resources.

The Gillis branch is three miles from Tower District, which is an hour-long walk for anyone without a car or the means to take public transit. 

“There definitely does seem to be a need in this part of Fresno, because for most people it’s several miles to the nearest branch of the Public Library so that could be a barrier for people,” Andrew Wakelee, a Fresno City College librarian said.

The project has a simple solution, build a new library easily accessible to the people living in the tower district area. 

This project is backed in part by the South Tower Community Land Trust, described on their website as “a nonprofit that envisions a barrier free South Tower neighborhood, creatively building shared prosperity and health.” 

“They have been a part of many other campaigns to help the community, including the renovation of a decommissioned police substation into a park for the community on Broadway, The Queer Housing Summit, and the installation of bike racks and murals across the District,” said Brooke Payton, an advocate for the Tower District Library Project. 

Wakelee said that the library would make it easy for students to access services the public library has, including different book genres and additional space to utilize. 

According to Wakelee, there is a lack of fiction books at FCC, with more academic-related books. The new library will give students a chance to read more to their taste and engage in more reading. 

Jacob Lopez, a Fresno City College second semester student, believes it would give students a resource to study and said it would be good for people who need to be close by.  

“Some people have children at home so they can’t go too far,” Lopez said. 

With many schools surrounding the Tower district, many families in the area may need supplemental education and resources for their kids but are not accessible with libraries located far away.

“They don’t have proper transportation, or the kind of proper transportation that would allow them to transport their families,” Payton said.

Their website promotes some of the benefits a library would bring to the community, including safe spaces for community members to gather, access to important resources, and books. 

 “There are people in our community who don’t have access to Wi-Fi, who don’t have access to computers, who don’t have access to books and other resources or safe spaces,” Payton said.

Studies show that libraries play an important role in building a sense of community. 

 In a survey conducted by students at UPenn earlier this year, results showed that 73% of people in lower-income ZIP codes reported that their library gives them the feeling of being cared for compared to 48% in higher-income areas. 

The survey also found that the positive impact of libraries was higher for those who spent time at a branch rather than just going online, though 58% of e-only users reported that library use affects how optimistic they are about the future.

“I only make it to the public library maybe every few months, usually to the downtown branch but I would definitely go more often if there was one in the Tower,” Wakelee said.

The project is a work in progress and Payton said she wants to hear feedback and suggestions from the community.

“On the website, there’s a button to sign the petition, a button to take the survey, a button to donate–if you’re financially able to do so, and a button to email, email me if you have any comments, questions, ideas,” Payton said.

If you are interested in helping, donating, or just want to learn more about the project in general, you can visit towerlibrary.org. 

To gain access to library books, FCC is holding an event in front of the library on Sept. 30. at 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Students will be able to sign up for a free library card accessible to all library branches with the confirmation of a valid California ID, Drivers license or any government-issued photo ID.