Olympia Timberland Library to get an updating this fall

The Olympia Timberland Library will receive an updating this fall. While the City of Olympia replaces the carpet throughout the building in a scheduled maintenance project, Timberland Regional Library (TRL) will carry out other projects such as painting and installing new public service desks.

The remodel will begin on October 14 and city and library officials expect it to be completed by December 14. The library will also be closed Monday, October 13 and Tuesday, October 14.

Beginning October 15, library staff will provide basic circulation services from the library meeting room. People will be able to enter through the 9^th and Adams Street (southeast) door to pick up and check out the books and other library materials they placed on hold, checkout the items and return them. People will also be able to apply for new library cards. There will be no books to browse, public computers or wireless Internet access.

The book drop slot by the front door and the drive-up book drop in the library’s Adams Street parking lot will be available for returning materials. Library staff will continue to accept book donations during the remodel. Parking will be in the library’s east lot on 9^th and Adams and there is street parking.

• Monday 10-8
• Tuesday 10-8
• Wednesday 11-8
• Thursday 11-8
• Friday 10-6
• Saturday 10-5
• Sunday - Closed

The project includes new carpet and paint throughout; new information and circulation desks, the addition of a new sit-down desk for people applying for library cards and new seating in the atrium. The holds shelves—shelves with books, CDs, DVDs and other items that have arrived for patrons—will be moved into the public area for self-pickup. The public computer stations will be cleaned and the staff workspace behind the circulation desk will be remodeled to speed the flow of tasks and library materials.

"This project will visually lighten and warm up the space—it’ll be like a burst of sunshine in the library!" said Cheryl Heywood, the Olympia library manager. The new atrium seating will provide a few splashes of color and the Sylvester’s Window paintings that depict Olympia’s history will pop in contrast to the wall paint, said Heywood.

• $109,053 for carpet replacement: City of Olympia, Public Works Department building maintenance fund
• Final costs to be determined for painting, new information and circulation desks, staff work area remodel, storage containers, temporary labor and possibly some of the new furniture for the atrium: to be paid with a portion of the interest from two Olympia library bequests.
• $15,000 (approx.) for professional space planning services: Timberland Regional Library
• $12,000 for new furniture in the atrium: private donation
• $4,000 (approx.) for boxes to store the books and other materials in containers: The Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library
• Project planning, management and part of the labor: Timberland Regional Library employees

"We are so grateful to have two bequests earmarked for the Olympia Library by two Olympia residents and to be able to use a portion of the interest to update the library. Everything is running smoothly and everyone involved has been very helpful," said Heywood.

In addition to the basic services in the Olympia Timberland Library meeting room, Olympians are encouraged to use the following libraries and services:

• Lacey Timberland Library; 500 College Street SE, Lacey; (360) 491-3860
• Tumwater Timberland Library; 7023 New Market Street, Tumwater; (360) 943-7790
• TRL Web site: www.trlib.org. People can access their library records and the catalog of library materials. They can also place holds on items they wish to borrow. In addition, the Web site has extensive online resources for homework and research for all ages. All Timberland library locations, hours and programs are also on the site.
• Reference Librarians: People can ask for information on any topic. On the TRL Web site, click on Ask a Librarian and select chat or email, or call reference librarians at 704-4636.

Olympia library programs that will continue during the project include the library’s adult, senior, and some youth and teen book discussion groups; Friends of the Library meetings and librarians’ school visits. For dates, times and locations, call the library or visit the TRL Web site.

Olympia library employees will work at other Timberland libraries during the project and will perform some Olympia library jobs from the TRL Administrative Service Center. Olympia library staff will answer phone calls to (360) 352-0595 as usual.

Olympia’s library building will be 30 years old on December 10, 2008. Except for the computer stations, the library furniture, including shelves, service desks and workstations, are the same age. Use of the facility increases continually. Between 2002 and 2007 there was a 22.85 percent increase in the circulation of books, CDs, movies and other items and a 10 percent increase in door count. February 2008 saw the highest daily average: 1,440 people a day. On a record-breaking day in July 2008, 2,486 people visited the library.