Sequim Library closes for construction

Packing and moving is underway for the Sequim Library’s materials and equipment to a temporary location in the former Brian’s Sporting Goods, 609 W. Washington St., Suite 21.

The move is part of a long-planned expansion and renovation project at the current location at 630 N. Sequim Ave.

Staff held a last-day celebration on Saturday, March 9, with refreshments, pictures and a chance to check out media and use computers before the temporary space reopens operations at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 1.

Rachel Tax said her family visited so her daughter Anna-Marie could check out some cat books before the closure so she could write a report for 4-H.

Fourteen-year-old Abigail West dressed as a T-Rex for the send-off event saying she visits for the library’s Teen Night. West said her outfit was following her mom’s motif that “it’s free to have a good time.”

Sequim’s current library was opened in 1983 and efforts to expand its footprint have been ongoing for decades as Sequim has seen a dedicated user base with numerous community meetings, and its media checkouts have nearly matched the larger Port Angeles Library at times.

Construction — estimated at $6.143 million — will add about 3,800 gross-square-feet to the existing 6,255-square-feet Sequim Library and tentatively finish in spring 2025.

Library staff report about $6.17 million has been raised for an approximate $9.32 million goal, with more information at nols.org/sequim. In an effort to minimize debt, the North Olympic Library System will tentatively take on general obligation bonds, while continuing to seek grants and its foundation will fundraise, staff previously said.

Temporary space

NOLS Executive Director Noah Glaude led library trustees and staff on a tour of the temporary space, formerly Frick’s Drugs and Brian’s Sporting Goods, on March 9.

“I definitely think it’s going to work for a year,” he said of the 10,000-square-feet space.

Hoch Construction of Port Angeles was anticipated to finish final touches on the space this week, he said.

The firm opened and closed off some areas for the public and staff, a restroom was made Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible, and an alarm system was installed. Floors were also professionally cleaned.

Glaude said they kept renovations minimal because they acknowledge it’s a temporary space.

All of the materials and equipment will move from the current library, with staff working the next three weeks to help pack and label items. Professional movers from Olympic Moving & Storage will take about 52,500 media items, equipment, and shelves to the temporary location, library staff said.

Some staffers will remain on site during the move, or help at other branches or at the Bookmobile during the temporary closure, Glaude said.

“It’s going to be a well-coordinated dance,” he said.

Programming will continue in the temporary space with more information at nols.org/nols-events. The Summer Reading Program will be split between the temporary space and offsite locations such as the Sequim Middle School.

More to know

Here are some things to know about the temporary library:

• Items on hold between now and April 1 will be at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., and then return to the Sequim temporary library on April 1.

• Materials checked out prior to March 10 in Sequim have extended due dates.

• Until the temporary library opens, the Bookmobile will visit the site 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays.

• The temporary location opens at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 1.

• Its regular hours will be 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

• Once open on April 1, walk-up book drops will be available by the temporary library’s entrance 24/7.

For more information, visit nols.org/sequim-move.

Patrick Driggers, patron services specialist in the Sequim Library, stocks hold items on March 9. The library closed the next day so materials could be moved to a temporary space. Driggers said hold items are available at the Port Angeles Library, and will move to the Sequim temporary library on April 1 when it opens.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Abigail West, 14, dresses as a T-Rex for the library’s send-off celebration before its renovated and expanded over the next year. It’ll reopen at a temporary space in the former Brian’s Sporting Goods on April 1. West said she comes to the library for Teen Night and her costume was following her mom’s motif that “it’s free to have a good time.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Anna-Marie Tax, 7, reads a book about cats as part of a 4-H project she’s doing. She wanted to visit the Sequim Library on March 9 before it closed temporarily for three weeks.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ The Sequim Library sign is one of the last things to be placed before materials move from the Sequim Avenue library to the temporary space on Washington Street next to the former JCPenney building. The temporary library will be open through expansion and renovation of the existing library.

Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash Noah Glaude, NOLS executive director, shows library trustees the floor plan of the temporary Sequim Library at 609 W. Washington St. on March 9. It will open on April 1 after all the current library’s materials and equipment are moved for construction.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Library trustee board chairman Mark Urnes, center, opens a board meeting on March 9 inside the Sequim Library with a land acknowledgement before tours of the planned expansion and renovation of the existing building and temporary space during construction at the former Brian’s Sporting Goods.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ The former Frick’s Drugs and Brian’s Sporting Goods space at 609 W. Washington St., Suite 21, will serve as the temporary Sequim Library from April 1 through spring 2025 as construction begins on expanding and renovating the current library at 630 N. Sequim Ave.