Communications Department - (360) 943-5001 - Fax 586-6838 - 415 Airdustrial Way SW - Olympia, WA 98501
Reference & Information line: 704-INFO in Olympia area or toll-free 1-800-562-6022. 
TRL Web site: http://www.timberland.lib.wa.us  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Leanne Ingle, 360-704-4508, or outside Thurston County calling area: (877) 284-6237, ext. 2508; e-mail: lingle@timberland.lib.wa.us.

The McCleary Timberland Library will be closed from May 27 to June 10, 2003 as the library is moved into its new location at 121 S. 4th St., McCleary.

"We’re inviting local citizens to be part of a community book pass on Monday, June 2," said Community Librarian, Mary Thornton. From 10 to 11 a.m. that day, children from McCleary schools will form a stationary brigade to pass books between the old and new libraries. Adults are invited to join the chain. Adults may also team up to move books after 11 a.m., using carts provided by Timberland Regional Library. "People can come for the whole day or just make a trip or two. We want this to be a fun way to get everyone ready for the opening of the new library," said Thornton. At three times the size of the current facility, the new library will provide patrons with additional computers, a separate children’s area, a meeting room, and other new features.

For safety during the book pass, streets will be closed between the old library quarters at 100 S. Third St. and the new facility next to the city’s Post Office on Fourth Street, especially when the children are participating. "Children will be staying on the sidewalks wherever possible. We would like the kids to assemble in front of McCleary City Hall by 10," said Thornton, "Grays Harbor AmeriCorps volunteers will be helping to coordinate the children and move books."

Timberland estimates it will take 60 book-cartloads to move the library books. Staff will be able to shrink wrap the books if the ground proves to be less than level or the weather doesn’t cooperate, said Thornton. People who want to participate can call the library at 495-3368 for more information or to sign up.

Library materials that come in for patrons during the closure will be mailed to them, or library users can choose to have them sent to another Timberland library to pick up. Library staff will help people with the process of changing the location for their holds. For information or assistance during the closure, people may call or stop by the Timberland libraries in Elma and Shelton; call Timberland’s Reference and Information toll free number, 1-800-562-6022; or visit the Timberland Website at www.trlib.org. Expected opening of the new library is 3 p.m. June 10.

Locations and hours of McCleary’s neighboring Timberland libraries:

Elma Timberland Library
118 N. First Street
(360) 482-3737
Hours: M-TU 12-8, W-SAT 11-5

Shelton Timberland Library
(William G. Reed Public Library)
710 W. Alder Street
(360) 426-1362
Hours: M-TH 10-8, F-SAT 10-5

Timberland Regional Library serves Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties at 27 community libraries and 6 school-based cooperative library centers. For information on any subject, the Grays Harbor public can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians at 1-800-562-6022, toll-free. Or they can "Ask a Librarian" online at http://www.trlib.org/asklib.htm. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program may contact the library 4 days in advance.

Revised 05/21/03