Ask City Council to save University Park Library!
NOTE: This motion passed unanimously at the February 10, 2026 City Council meeting. Per staff, the City is currently dialoguing with the County to see what it would take to purchase UPL. We should hear a report on this in April. We will circulate an email when we know more. You can subscribe here to be sure you get this and other important updates when they are available.
The City of Irvine operates and maintains University Park Library (UPL), but the land the library sits on is leased to the City by the County of Orange for $40,000/month.
At the request of Councilmember Betty Martinez-Franco, on February 10, 2026, the Irvine City Council will explore purchasing the UPL property from Orange County.
This is GREAT news!
City ownership of the UPL property is a sure way to save University Park Library and this deliberation is the first step to doing so.
Please send an email to the City Council to express your support for saving University Park Library.
Below is a draft to get you started. We encourage you to personalize it by adding a brief introduction at the beginning.
After you send in your email, you can submit it as an eComment here.
Sample email
Copy and paste the text below into your email client. If your phone/browser is connected to your email, you can click here to open a window with the email and addresses already loaded.
To: IrvineCityCouncil@CityofIrvine.org, LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org, JamesMai@cityofirvine.org, MelindaLiu@cityofirvine.org, WilliamGo@cityofirvine.org, MikeCarroll@cityofirvine.org, BettyMartinez@cityofirvine.org, KathleenTreseder@cityofirvine.org
Subject: A buyout to save University Park Library for good
Dear City Council,
YOUR INTRO: Strengthen your email by sharing your name and how long you have lived in Irvine. In addition/instead you can comment on your connection to University Park Library.
I am writing to let you know I strongly support the City purchasing the University Park Library property.
University Park Library is a cornerstone of our community and a critical piece of the new Irvine Public Library system. It is crucial the City have permanent local control over this indispensable public facility. Staff expeditiously exploring the purchase of the library is an important first step.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
“eComment”
Copy and paste the text below into the eComment form available here.
University Park Library is a cornerstone of our community and a critical piece of the new Irvine Public Library system. It is crucial the City have permanent local control over this indispensable public facility. Staff expeditiously exploring the purchase of the library is an important first step.
