Seal Street Park is the future home to a Tiny Olympic Library – a freestanding, self-service structure aimed at providing a small collection of books for community members and/or visitors to enjoy.

The compact, custom-designed and locally crafted library will have books available for all ages, ranging from children’s picture books to literary fiction. All books are free and may be kept, shared or returned, and to maintain an ever-changing selection, library staff plan to regularly keep the tiny library stocked with new choices.

The small city park located along Washington Street “met all the criteria” library officials set in order to choose the ideal locations to incorporate tiny libraries, Joe Irvin, City of Sequim parks manager and assistant to the city manager, said.

“It’s a high pedestrian area,” he said. “I’m excited … it just seems like a really neat project.”

Established in 2003 as part of a Downtown Revitalization Project, Seal Street Park was named in recognition of Charles Franklin Seal who was an entrepreneur within the area and built the Sequim Trading Company at the corner of Washington Street and North Sequim Avenue.

Though only one-tenth of an acre in size, already Seal Street Park has three benches, an exercise station, a World War I veterans memorial drinking fountain and an informational kiosk to help navigate around town.

“I think it’s a great addition to the park,” Irvin said. “I’ve seen tiny libraries in other neighborhoods and there’s just a certain charm to them.”

The Tiny Olympic Library destined for the park is one of four tiny libraries officials with North Olympic Library System, in partnership with the North Olympic Library Foundation, are installing throughout Clallam County. Other locations include City Pier in Port Angeles, Clallam Transit Center in Forks and Sunsets West Co-op in Clallam Bay.

“Sometimes known as ‘Little Free Libraries,’ these quaint, colorful structures are becoming familiar sights in many communities, but have yet to make a prominent appearance on the North Olympic Peninsula,” Margaret Jakubcin, library director for the NOLS, said.

Allowing library officials to move forward with their project, Sequim city councilors unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding July 27 with NOLS.

Councilor Laura Dubois was absent.

City officials anticipate installing the tiny library at the park by the end of the month, as all four Tiny Olympic Libraries are expected to become operational throughout August.

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.