— by Cara Russell —

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My family moved to Orcas Island when I was eight years old. It was a uniquely cold and windy November. The Orcas Public Library, which was located at 217 Main Street at the time, was the size of a small house, and held a tiny collection of children’s books that ignited my imagination during those first powerless, candle lit winter months here.

In the summer my mom signed me up for the kid programs. Children’s librarian Phyllis Carney, now retired, taught us about Egypt, and we painted her husband’s (Garry Evans) big old truck to look like the sphinx, which we walked along side of in the 4th of July parade, as little mummies wrapped in strips of bed sheets and countless rolls of toilet paper.

In 1992, I stepped into the ‘new’ library for the first time, and my eyes grew large as I gazed at the shelves of books, the bright airy space, and the high exposed wood ceilings that came to a point. As Anne of Green Gables would say, “there’s so much scope for imagination.” To me, the space was stimulating with more than enough head space for my imagination to run wild.

So it was with nostalgia and anticipation that I took part in the Library’s Ice Cream Social and Friend-raiser this Saturday, July 19, and observed blueprints of the plan to expand yet again. The number of cardholders has grown 86 percent since 1995 and the library currently holds over 45,000 items. With limited room for new materials, every time a new book comes in, another must go. Quiet spaces are becoming hard to find as nearly 70 people visit the library every day, just looking for a workspace for their laptops and other devices to connect to the free wi-fi.

Library Board of Trustees — Rachel Newcombe, Donna Gerardi Riordan, Margaret Payne, Tom Fiscus, and Regina Zwilling — dressed in striped aprons, hosted this community event as they gave out ice-cream, popcorn, lemonade, along with information on the planned expansion. Library Director Phil Heikkinen also connected with library visitors, explaining the plans for expanding — and fundraising.

Margaret Payne described the conscious thought behind the expansion: the young adult section will be located in eye view of the front desk; the quiet reading will be moved to the back of the new development to minimize noise; multiple study spaces will be available to groups; a cyber-bar and patio will be added to accommodate those with laptops and other devices; and more.

The expansion, drawn up by architect David Kau of Stoltz Kau, will include 2,322 square feet of shelving, 723 square feet for a new children’s wing, and 400 square feet in the young adult section. 350 square feet will be devoted to quiet reading, 300 square feet to periodicals, and 300 square feet to computers. Plans also call for a family bathroom, four rooms for small group study, a cyber-bar, an outside patio, a daylight basement, storage, and office space. And with all of these additions, there will be no changes to the architecture of the original building.

Already, $300,000 has been donated by the community and raised by Friends of the Library. The total expected cost for the expansion is estimated at $1.3 M.

If you would like to learn more or help support the Library expansion, contact Phil via EMAIL or visit their WEBSITE. Consider attending public meetings, join a project committee, or donate funds, at the front desk, through mail, or online.

Your contribution to the Orcas Island Public Library is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. All gifts are held in the Library’s Building Account, managed by San Juan County, or in the OIPL Building Fund managed by the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

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