Tumwater library remodel means limited services until June 2025. Here’s what to know
The Tumwater Timberland Library will be closed for two weeks in January, and then offer limited services until June while the building undergoes renovations aimed at modernizing it.
The Tumwater branch will temporarily close starting Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, then reopen Jan. 27.
During those two weeks, crews will be remodeling the library’s meeting room. When the library reopens, it will offer limited services from the meeting room while the rest of the library is being worked on, spokesperson Anna Lisa Rasmussen said.
Library patrons will have access to a limited selection of materials, but will continue to have access to computers, printing, wifi, and holds, pickups and return services, according to a news release.
The library will be open for these limited services from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
The remodel is meant to help refresh and modernize the library to better serve the community, according to the release. There will be a new children’s area, improved spaces for all patrons and a refreshed layout that enhances accessibility.
Rasmussen said patrons will see a pretty different library come June. She said the walls will be painted a different color and flooring is being replaced throughout. There will be a new information desk, improved lighting, and better shelving.
She said the children’s area will include an interactive play structure, and new furniture is being added to study pods.
“All the changes that we’re making are to improve accessibility and patron experiences,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen didn’t want to get into specifics, but she said the library’s layout will be pretty different from what patrons are seeing now.
“We always make changes to improve workflow, to improve efficiency,” she said. “So I think that when patrons come back, they’re going to see a pretty different library with a lot of improvements.”
The library is expected to reopen in June 2025, with a grand reopening to mark the occasion. In the meantime, patrons are encouraged to visit nearby Timberland Regional Library locations for more services and programs, including Olympia, west Olympia, Lacey and Hawks Prairie, which are all accessible by bus; explore TRL’s online resources at TRL.org.
Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan said the Tumwater Timberland Library is a cornerstone of the community, and she’s excited for the updates to come.
“The remodel will ensure this vital space continues to serve as a hub for learning, exploration, and connection,” she said.
Rasmussen said the project is being funded by the library network and is expected to cost $450,000.
This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
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