Gavilan College is on track to open its new library and resource center by the end of 2026. It’s the most significant building project on the Gilroy campus in years. Here’s what’s coming.
What’s inside
The new library and resource center is designed as a modern study hub, not a book warehouse. Collaborative study spaces, individual quiet rooms, tutoring areas, a dedicated space for student services, and significantly expanded computer access. There’s a maker-space component in the plans, plus upgraded AV for faculty who want to teach library-based research sessions.
Why it matters
Community college libraries have become the de facto “third place” for students who need WiFi, a quiet corner, and a printer. The old Gavilan library was undersized and aging. The new building fixes both — and the tutoring integration is the piece we’re most excited about. Students who can get research help, math help, and writing help in the same building where they study are more likely to finish their classes. That’s not theoretical; it’s well-documented in community college research.
Who it serves
Gavilan serves Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin, Hollister, and the surrounding rural communities. It’s the most affordable path to a four-year degree for a lot of South Valley families, either as a transfer destination (UC, CSU) or for career and technical programs. Everything that strengthens Gavilan strengthens the local ladder.
What students should know
Expect a phased move-in through late 2026.
- The current library will remain operational until the new building opens.
- Student services staff will be adding walk-in hours as the new building comes online.
The bigger picture
Community colleges are often the unsung workhorses of regional economies. Morgan Hill and Gilroy have benefitted from Gavilan quietly for decades — nurses, IT pros, machinists, early childhood educators. A better library is a concrete investment in that pipeline.
For more on education in the valley, see our Morgan Hill Schools Guide and our SJSU Guaranteed Admission post.
Want updates like this every Wednesday? Subscribe to South Valley Spotlight.
Sources:
Gavilan College aims to complete new library, resource center by end of year — Morgan Hill Times