The Tower District Library Initiative: A Detailed Overview
Tower District Library Project: A Community-Led Initiative in Fresno
The Tower District Library Project, a community-driven initiative, aims to provide resources equivalent to a Fresno County Public Library for the Tower District community. The progress of this project can be tracked on the TowerLibrary.org website, created by Brooke Payton's husband, Derek Payton.
Brooke Payton, a Tower District Library Advocate, got involved in the project after a Van Ness Village Business Roundtable in May 2022. Arthur Robinson, a local advocate and artist, was the first to suggest the idea of a library in the Tower District during a meeting.
The project is not an official Fresno County or Fresno County Public Library project. However, the Tower District Library Project's Board voted to become its fiduciary sponsor in 2023, taking it under the 501(c)3 umbrella of its sponsor.
The South Tower Community Land Trust has shown significant support for the project. The City of Fresno cannot force the County of Fresno to create a library, but by approving the library policy in the final draft, the City will have officially supported the Tower District's plans.
As of August 2025, no concrete details on construction, timeline, or planned features for a Tower District Library are reported. For the most current and detailed updates, checking directly with the Fresno County Public Library system or Fresno city planning departments may provide the latest specifics beyond these publicly available summaries.
In the meantime, people can help by visiting the TowerLibrary.org website, signing the petition, taking the survey, donating to the Tower District Library fund, volunteering for meetings, and managing the social media accounts for the Tower District Library Advocacy. Brooke Payton can be found at Root Access every first Thursday of the month for Art Hop and can be emailed through the contact button on the TowerLibrary.org website. Brooke Payton's husband, Derek Payton, created the website to track the project's progress.
Lorie Lewis Ham, the Editor-in-Chief and a mystery writer, has contributed to various sections and recently published a novel, "One of Us", set in the Tower District of Fresno and the world of community theatre.
The Tower District is currently situated between the Gillis Branch Library and the Fresno County Public Library, often referred to as the Central Branch Library. Kiel Lopez-Schmidt, the Executive Director of the sponsor, holds regular check-in meetings with Brooke Payton to discuss the project's progress.
Brooke Payton participated in the Fresno Pride Parade in 2024, further demonstrating her commitment to the community. When scheduling a meeting is possible, Brooke Payton can be found at Component Coffee in the Tower District.
- The community-led Tower District Library Project, extending beyond books and reading materials, aspires to transform the home-and-garden of the Tower District into an inviting space for community engagement.
- As a dedicated Tower District Library Advocate, Brooke Payton's vision for the project encompasses a lifestyle enhancement, fostering a vibrant and connected neighborhood in the heart of Fresno.
