More space, more privacy, fresh paint: Library renovations charm residents
Sixty-five hundred books a month, 120 patrons a day and still growing. After weeks of renovations, the American Canyon Library re-opened its doors on Monday, Jan. 5, solidifying its place as an essential part of local life.
“We get a lot more space, a lot more functionality — it feels like a brand-new library,” head librarian Derek Guidry said excitedly. “We’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback.”
Upon entering, the difference is clear. The space does feel much bigger. “We went with a more minimalist look,” Guidry said. “It helps create a calmer atmosphere.” The walls, too, are freshly painted a robin’s egg blue. “The paint color alone makes the place feel so much more spacious,” he added.
New sliding doors open automatically for visitors at the entrance, leading to a fresh, high-pile grey and blue carpet giving it that “new car smell,” Guidry said.
Some patrons have even mistaken longtime features for parts of the remodel, Guidry chuckled. It’s a sign that mindful investment in community space can make even old things feel new.
Shelving was also rearranged, opening up more room in the center of the library. A formerly long table at the north end of the building, usually crowded with students, is now divided up into desks with privacy screens. In the magazine nook, heavy chairs are swapped for a banquette and small accent tables. In the children’s library, a long, rectangular table has been replaced with a snappy, round table.
Fun fact: the library is housed in a former bank, and the staff’s workspace is in a room that used to be a vault. Staffers lauded the extra storage space in the built-out office.
The American Canyon Library has long been a hub for locals to meet, study and work. The goal of the “face lift,” as Guidry called it, was to ensure the library kept pace with American Canyon’s own expansion.
“It’s a great community. I’ve seen it grow and seen the community grow up with it,” he said. Guidry has been the American Canyon librarian for eight years now, since he and his wife moved to Napa from New Orleans. Over the years, he has marveled the city’s development and watched kids grow up into young adults.
“We barely had anything near the WalMart when I started here, and now we’ve got all that stuff — Dunkin’ Donuts, Redwood Credit Union.”
“We loved it there but wanted a change,” he said. “We love this community. It feels like American Canyon is home to me,” he said.
The library is an important space for American Canyon residents, where the options for gathering tend to require buying something, like cafes and restaurants. It’s also increasingly a place for people to find a variety of resources.
On Tuesday, Guidry and his coworkers, Cynthia Garcia and Andrew Varilla, worked on a crossword at the front desk as the afternoon progressed. American Canyon resident Betty Seuss came up to the desk and waved Varilla over. “He’s a computer specialist,” Seuss said. “If I have any problems with anything on my phone he helps me.”
As Seuss headed to the DVD rentals, she said she was pleased with the changes to the library. “There’s a lot more room. I like that. It looks nice,” she said.
Every Tuesday, Julie Figueroa Munoz, a Napa County social worker, sits at a desk in the library from 1-5 p.m., available for anyone who needs counseling — no appointment necessary.
Each day, the library sees a balance of Solano and Napa County residents. Guidry said this is common. Following last year’s monthlong cyber-attack on Solano County libraries, American Canyon saw an influx of patrons.
“We absorbed even more Solano regulars since then. It’s been a good change,” Guidry said.
Jaylen Parks, a 2025 UC Davis graduate and Vallejo resident, was sitting at one of the new desks studying for his driving test. With him was fellow Vallejo resident Joe Cendejas.
“It definitely feels cozier,” said Cendejas, who frequents the American Canyon Library. He hadn’t been sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.
With the recent upgrades, Guidry said the community will have even more room to gather and partake in events.
Typically, those events are held in the community room, which just got a fresh coat of blue paint and additional storage. This month, the library is hosting a presentation from the Audubon Society and a financial literacy workshop by Primerica.
“We’re always doing something,” Guidry said.
In February, they’ll have a Black History Month screening of “Sinners” and show a documentary about Napa’s Chinese community, coordinated by the Napa County Historical Society. Guidry also said they’ll be starting a Dungeons and Dragons club in February.
The library’s official re-opening party is Jan. 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be homemade cookies. The library is located at 300 Crawford Way. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (707) 644-1136.
