The community is welcome to the grand opening of the newly renovated Hunt Library on Saturday, April 13, from 10 am – 2 pm at 201 S. Basque Ave, Fullerton.

The city-owned Hunt Branch Library experienced extensive vandalism in the form of broken windows and graffiti in the summer of 2022. Opened in 1962, The Hunt Library served as a second branch of the Fullerton Public Library for over 50 years before being entirely defunded and closed in 2013. Gifted to the City of Fullerton by industrialist and art collector Norton Simon, who once displayed Rodins, Rembrandts, and Picassos in or around the building, the Hunt served as a branch of the Fullerton Public Library from 1962 to 2013, when the Fullerton City Council chose to defund it and lease it to a neighboring property owner.

The facility was leased to neighboring Grace Ministries International for several years before being removed from the city’s list of surplus properties at the urging of the community group Save The Hunt, who successfully campaigned to have the historic William Pereira-designed structure and its surrounding grounds remain as a public facility. Local preservationist group Fullerton Heritage secured its status as a local landmark and a place on the National Register of Historic Places. A Hunt Library Ad Hoc Committee sought proposals for possible uses of the Hunt for Literacy, arts, and Culture programs, although the agreement with two arts organizations it selected was terminated due to new guidelines that they could not afford.

According to the guidelines, the need for an independent revenue source to maintain the Hunt Library building and grounds and provide the programming the community wants was at the proposal’s core. This may be why the Hunt Library remained vacant, had not had a successful long-term occupant since it was closed in 2013, and was in extremely poor condition.

The Hunt Library Ad Hoc Committee evaluated proposals and made recommendations to the City Council on the revitalization of the long-closed Hunt Branch Library located at 201 S. Basque Ave in Fullerton. Deputy City Manager Daisy Perez gave a presentation proposing that the city take over managing the Hunt Library on Aril 3, 2023. After being approved by the Ad Hoc Committee and City Council, much-needed renovations began with funding from the State through Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva and Senator Josh Newman.

The funds helped to complete reconstruction and renovation costs for the nearly 60-year-old structure. According to Quirk-Silva’s office, the $250,000 was set aside to “cover start-up funding for the cultural arts and library services.”

The Hunt Library Ad-hoc Committee met on April 3, 2023, to hear proposals from Olive Community Services and the City of Fullerton. After a presentation by Deputy City Manager Daisy Perez, the ad-hoc committee approved the City Proposal to go before the city council, which unanimously accepted it. Renovations quickly began, and increased security was added.

According to Ellen Ballard, “The City Plan answers all the criteria and mission statements of the Ad Hoc Committee: to open the Hunt to a much-needed library, a community resource, and a meeting place for art, music, and other cultural events. The City takes the lead with program development. The other proposals, however worthy they were, called for projects that were not within the scope of advisement from the Ad Hoc Committee. Eric Levitt, the City Manager, and his staff have been resourceful and listened to community members’ comments. The City Plan allows plans for the Hunt to move forward and become a destination place for the greater Fullerton community.”

Fortunately, the city began the repairs just in time, and today, the Hunt looks better than new, with ADA-compliant bathrooms, new windows, and lighting, maintained grounds, and so much more. The Fullerton community can once more be proud of this architectural delight and is welcome to join the grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 13, from 10 am to 2 pm at 201 S. Basque Ave, Fullerton.

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