Rialto Branch Library opens new chapter with reimagined spaces for learning and discovery

"San Bernardino County Update", yellow arrowhead and "SBCounty.gov

Five adults, including a uniformed astronaut, smile in a glowing sci-fi control room while children watch nearby at an upbeat space event. — *From left to right:* *Vice Chair and* Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., Rialto Mayor Joe Baca, Dr. José Hernández, County Librarian Melanie Orosco and Garner Holt join local students inside the Rialto Branch Library’s new immersive storytime space.

More than 200 community members gathered Monday, Oct. 19, to celebrate the reopening of the San Bernardino County Library’s Rialto Branch, marking a new chapter for the longtime community library with reimagined spaces designed to make reading, learning and discovery more immersive than ever.

The celebration brought together county and community leaders, families and library supporters, along with 40 students from the San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department, for an outdoor ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by the first public look at the transformed library.

The ceremony featured remarks from Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.; San Bernardino County Deputy Executive Officer Moe Yousif; Rialto Mayor Joe Baca; Council Member Edward Montoya Jr.; Garner Holt, founder of Garner Holt Productions, Inc.; and Dr. José Hernández, former NASA astronaut. Speakers reflected on the importance of investing in spaces that give children and families opportunities to learn, create and explore within their own community.

“As someone who grew up visiting the Rialto Branch Library, it is especially meaningful to see it continue to grow and create new opportunities for our community,” said Baca, Jr. “These new spaces are more than an investment in our library. They are an investment in our children’s futures, giving them the tools to explore, create, and discover what is possible.”

Among the highlights is a reimagined children’s storytime space that transforms a visit to the library into an adventure. Guests enter into an interactive space station experience designed to build anticipation and a sense of discovery, creating an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of a popular space-themed amusement park attraction.

The renovated branch also introduces an Animaker Space, developed in collaboration with Garner Holt Education Through Imagination, where children are encouraged to step away from screen time and learn by doing. The space brings together tools and technology used across design, fabrication and entertainment industries, including 3D printers for prototyping and high-resolution projects, a vinyl printer, laser cutter, CNC milling machine, vacuum former, embroidery and sewing equipment, an airbrush spray hood, and a professional show lighting and truss system. A Radian animatronic adds another dimension to the experience, giving young learners a glimpse into the technology and creativity behind themed entertainment and animatronics.

More than simply introducing children to new technology, the Animaker Space is designed to encourage hands-on building, creating, experimenting and problem-solving. By giving young people opportunities to move an idea from imagination to design and ultimately to a finished creation, the space can help develop practical skills, build confidence and spark early interest in fields such as engineering, manufacturing, design, technology and the creative arts.

The participation of Preschool Services students brought that vision to life as some of the library’s youngest customers explored the new spaces and experienced firsthand how hands-on learning, storytelling and imaginative environments can turn a library visit into an opportunity for discovery.

“This renovation represents what we want our libraries to be — places where children and families are excited to walk through the doors and discover something they may not have experienced before,” said County Librarian Melanie Orosco. “The Rialto Branch has served this community for generations, and these improvements allow us to honor that history while creating new opportunities for the generations who will come next.”

The renovation reflects the County Library’s continued investment in creating welcoming, engaging spaces that extend beyond books. By combining traditional library services with interactive environments, educational programming, technology and hands-on experiences, the County Library continues to evolve alongside the communities it serves.

With the ribbon officially cut and the doors reopened, the Rialto Branch begins its next chapter as a place where residents can read, imagine, create and discover what is possible.

For information about San Bernardino County Library services, programs and collections, visit library.sbcounty.gov, call 909-387-2220 or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Additional County Update News – October 22, 2026