This weekend kicks off the 123rd Irrigation Festival. Just as irrigation delivers water to foster growth, the library circulates nourishing materials and services to community members. Sequim’s initial library collection wasn’t too far behind the first Irrigation Festival; in 1915, the Sequim Women’s Club started a circulating library of 300 books. The books were later given to service members during World War I.

In 1923, the Progressive Club bought land for a library at 415 N. Sequim Ave. The Clyde Rhodefer Memorial Library was built 13 years later, after receiving financial support from the Public Works Administration. In 1947, the library became part of the newly-formed Clallam County Rural Library District, which later became the North Olympic Library System (NOLS), as it is known today.

The library eventually outgrew the little building at 415 N. Sequim Ave. and in 1983, relocated to its present location at 630 N. Sequim Ave. The land was donated by Gertrude Nelson, and the library was built with generous support from the City of Sequim, the Friends of Sequim Library and many others throughout the community.

Now, 35 years later, the Sequim Branch Library is bursting at the seams, with community members again looking at ways to address the squeeze. It’s been an acknowledged problem for at least 20 years, and the library is actively working on a solution through the Sequim Library Expansion Project which is currently concluding Phase 2 (Conceptual Design). Community input is an essential element of this phase; important outcomes of Phase 2 planning are a viable design proposal and solid cost estimates.

The NOLS Board of Trustees is considering placement of a bond measure on the November 2018 ballot, to give community members the opportunity to vote on a Sequim Library Expansion. A larger library would provide more meeting room space for community members, study rooms, a quiet reading room, dedicated spaces for children, tweens and teens, additional computers, and adequate seating, all of which are currently lacking in the existing Library. Access to library services in Sequim would continue throughout any period of construction.

Come find out more about the project! The library will be at the Irrigation Festival’s Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be fun activities for kids, information about upcoming library programs and previews of Conceptual Design drawings to explore.

The NOLS Board of Trustees discussed the next steps in Sequim Library Expansion Project at their regular meeting on April 26, and will conclude that discussion at a special meeting on May 10. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Sequim Branch Library Meeting Room.

On Wednesday, May 16, NOLS’ architectural consultants will conclude Phase 2 work with a community presentation on conceptual planning and design. The presentation begins at 6 p.m. at the Sequim Branch Library, with a reception following.

To learn more about the project, visit www.nols.org and click on Sequim Expansion Project, call 360-683-1161, or stop by and see me at the Sequim Branch Library located at 630 N. Sequim Ave. Help keep library services flowing, better all the time.

Emily Sly is the Library Manager for the Sequim Branch Library of the North Olympic Library System.