Irvine City Council Votes to Keep the Katie Wheeler Library Open

Mia Jong

The Katie Wheeler Library is located in North Irvine and has open access to print and media services, originally being a ranch house owned by James Irvine II. The structure was designated as a historical landmark by OC Park in 2008, according to The Historical Marker Database, and much of the decision to lease the library was due to community advocacy. “I would encourage all the young students to actually voice their concerns, come to city council meetings, reach out, write to us and let us know what your needs are so we can better serve you because the purpose of the City Council is to serve as residents and enhance your life,” said city council member Melinda Liu.

The Irvine City Council coordinated with the Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) to lease the Katie Wheeler Library as a city library branch on Jan. 14. The city will operate the library system while the county retains rights to the Katie Wheeler complex to ensure continued library access for Irvine residents.

A unanimous vote from the council decided to keep the Katie Wheeler Library open after community feedback and an online petition of over 5,300 signatures, according to a report by the Irvine City Council. The lease allows the city to continue developing its city-wide library system while expanding plans for different library branch facilities around Irvine.

Currently, the North Irvine area has no public community center, leading to many residents needing to travel outside of the district. The long term goal for the library is to find a location within District 1 and build a new library if the lease is not renewed before Dec. 31 2029, according to city council member Melinda Liu.

Leading up to the decision, Irvine had been discussing how to allocate resources toward local city libraries based on population growth, library needs and community priorities, according to the City of Irvine. For many residents, the library is an important aspect to have free access to information and resources to learn.

“Having a place together is to create a sense of community,” Liu said. “I’ve been living in Irvine for 20 years, and I noticed the change right when my kids were little, they could go out and ride their bikes and run around our street with their friends. It’s not so much of that anymore. And the charm of Irvine is that it used to be a small community. You all have a common goal, a common interest, something to share and get to know each other.”

The new lease will allow North Irvine residents to continue to have access to services and events at the Katie Wheeler Library. Throughout the week, the library frequently hosts community engagement activities, offering a space for kindergarten readiness, ESL conversation groups, reading lessons with therapy dogs and recreational art and writing activities.

“I love how quiet it is and also how everyone just seems so productive in there,” freshman Alexis Lai said. “It’s not only really nostalgic to go there, but it’s also just a place that I’ve been going to for a long time. I just want to be able to continue going there to get work done and just to go there with family or friends.”

The Katie Wheeler Library will be incorporated into the Irvine Public Library System by Jan. 1, 2026.

Donate to Portola Pilot

$210

$500

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Portola High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributor

Mia Jong, Co-Managing Editor

Mia Jong is the Co-Managing Editor for her third and final year on the Portola Pilot. She loves to create, whether it be with a paintbrush and canvas or a pen and paper, and she can’t wait to make more memories with her fellow Pilot members. In her free time, you can find her penny-boarding at the park, attempting to learn Korean or debunking the “best Yelp-reviewed eats.” She believes everyone has a unique story to tell and hopes to give a voice to the Portola High community through her writing.