PORT TOWNSEND — After a week of moving, cleaning and planning its temporary location, the Port Townsend Library opened for business Monday morning.
“We’ve been able to make this work,” library Director Theresa Percy said.
“This space has a lot of challenges, but we’ve managed to turn it into a place that can serve the public well, even if there are fewer places to sit down.”
The library closed in its regular location at 1220 Lawrence St. on April 6 for renovations.
Three days later, it sponsored a “people chain” that passed books from that location to the temporary location at Mountain View Commons, 1919 Blaine St.
Last week, professional movers packed up and relocated about 50,000 volumes to the new space, shrink-wrapping the books so they could be put on the new shelf in order.
The main library has moved to the old Mountain View School cafeteria space on the lower level of the pool building, while the children’s books are now located in a classroom between the police station and the food bank.
The main downstairs room has most of the collections, while a computer room/lounge and a small media room are adjacent to the large room.
The cafeteria has been converted as the circulation center, while the window formerly used to return trays is now where patrons will return books.
“We thought of using cafeteria trays to check out the books but that didn’t pan out,” Percy said.
While all the cafeteria equipment is gone for now, the dishwasher stayed.
“We could have used that space, but we couldn’t move the dishwasher,” Associate Librarian Keith Dorrock said.
Parking is also less plentiful and accessible at Mountain View.
Spaces in the front of the school have been reconfigured with a two-hour limit, and space is available on 19th Street.
Accessible parking is available behind the school and also serves as a pickup and drop-off area for the patrons.
Percy said many reference volumes, the maritime collection and about half of the children’s library were not moved to the new location.
These books are still available for use. Patrons can request access to books that remain at the Lawrence Street location.
Dorrock said the concrete walls in the temporary location provided some technical challenges.
They made wiring difficult and are less hospitable to wireless connections.
“We had to do a lot of cleaning and painting, but it looks good now,” Dorrock said.
“It really feels like a library.”
The main library will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
On Wednesday, it will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. only. Friday hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday hours are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The closure of the children’s library and shorter hours for the main library Wednesdays are to accommodate parking for food bank customers.
During the closure, book drops will continue to operate — one at Mountain View and another at the main library.
Books may continue to be returned at Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar St., in Port Hadlock and at the book drop at the Port Townsend QFC, 515 Sheridan St.
For more information, visit ptpubliclibrary.org.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
