Sequim library tracking for June opening

Fall campaign brings in more than $500K in donations

By Matthew Nash • February 6, 2025 3:30 am
Photo courtesy NOLS At a recent site visit, North Olympic Library System Facilities Manager Brian Phillips and SHKS Architect Pia Westen examine construction progress at the Sequim Library as it’s being renovated and expanded in January. NOLS leaders anticipate reopening the facility in June.
Photo courtesy NOLS At a recent site visit, North Olympic Library System Facilities Manager Brian Phillips and SHKS Architect Pia Westen examine construction progress at the Sequim Library as it’s being renovated and expanded in January. NOLS leaders anticipate reopening the facility in June.

The Sequim Library is now covered from the elements and with construction continuing at a strong pace, administrative leaders anticipate the facility being open for the Summer Reading Program.

“Everything is going well,” said Noah Glaude, executive director of the North Olympic Library System (NOLS).

“We’re still on schedule for opening late spring with substantial completion by the end of May and likely to open in mid-June.”

Substantially complete, Glaude said, means the building at 630 N. Sequim Ave. would be “basically done” and they’d move the collection from the temporary library at 609 W. Washington St., Suite 21, back to the expanded and renovated library.

The original library closed March 10 to move materials and operations reopened at the temporary location on April 1.

The updated library will go from from 6,000 to about 10,000 square feet to offer more space for collections, meetings and events, along with more natural lighting, new bathrooms, a paved parking lot and pathway along the south side of the property, and more.

Glaude said contractors worked as much as they could around a delay in the delivery of the building’s steel in the fall as the wait was out of their hands.

“We didn’t have a lot of control over that,” he said.

But library leaders have been happy with the progress.

“The site is fully covered now, and we’re getting a really good sense of what the building will feel like,” Glaude said.

Funding/Support

NOLS reports it has the approximate $10.7 million needed to complete the construction project.

Included in that are grants and donations, and a $4.49 million loan through the Washington State Treasurer’s LOCAL Program.

Glaude said they continue to seek grants and donations to pay back the loan.

In the fall, NOLS and the North Olympic Library Foundation received more than $530,000 from more than 550 donors for the project, ranging from $20 to more than $100,000, he said.

“It was an amazing response,” Glaude said. “We’re really excited to see how many people wanted to support this project.”

During the planning and construction phases, NOLS has opened up naming opportunities for different spaces in the renovated library.

Glaude said several spaces were claimed during the fall fundraising campaign, but some remain, such as for the main meeting room and outdoor stage. Read how to sponsor a space at nols.org/sequim-naming.

NOLS staff also continue to seek various grants with the library system receiving a $25,000 Community Development Grant from the First Fed Foundation and a $30,000 grant from the Department Of Commerce’s Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program for EV charging stations in the new parking lot.

Temporary space

Glaude said patrons have found that the temporary space and visits are on par with the original library.

According to NOLS staff records, the Sequim Library had 104,432 patron visits in 2023, and 104,473 patron visits in 2024 despite a three week closure for moving between facilities.

“That’s pretty good considering we were closed for about a month,” Glaude said.

The temporary space has had a few issues, he said, such as being a large echoey space, but “we are continuing to be excited about the (new library) as it comes together, how well it’s laid out and designed and that it’s going to last for decades and be so much better for the community.”

“We’re all excited to get this done,” Glaude said. “It feels like we’re in the home stretch.”

NOLS leaders anticipate that when the renovated library opens, usage will go up due to its new amenities.

“We haven’t had a meeting room available since before the pandemic, and we expect that usage to change,” Glaude said.

For updates and more information on the Sequim Library Renovation and Expansion Project, visit NOLS.org/Sequim.

Photo courtesy NOLS/ In recent weeks, the Sequim Library was covered leading North Olympic Library System leaders to anticipate a June opening becoming more likely.

Photo courtesy NOLS/ In recent weeks, the Sequim Library was covered leading North Olympic Library System leaders to anticipate a June opening becoming more likely.

Photo courtesy NOLS/ Work continues on the many new elements of the Sequim Library, including a front circulation desk, pictured, and various dedicated areas, such as a children’s area.

Photo courtesy NOLS/ Work continues on the many new elements of the Sequim Library, including a front circulation desk, pictured, and various dedicated areas, such as a children’s area.