FORKS — The newly renovated Forks Library will celebrate a grand reopening from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The library at 171 S. Forks Ave. reopened Tuesday after six months of extensive work that includes a new roof, new conference room and new technology, including an express-checkout station.
On Saturday, after a brief program at 1:30 p.m., refreshments, live music and guided tours of the refurbished facility will be available.
‘Much-needed overhaul’
“The whole library has had a much-needed overhaul pretty much from head to toe,” said Paula Barnes, director of the North Olympic Library System, or NOLS, which oversees the Forks, Clallam Bay, Sequim and Port Angeles public libraries.
“Our goal was to make the Forks branch comfortable, functional, flexible, energy-efficient and most of all beautiful, and I think we’ve succeeded in checking off all those boxes,” Barnes said.
The $835,000 renovation also includes an energy-efficient heating/ventilation system, new wall and floor coverings, renovated restrooms, an updated meeting room and insulated windows.
“The architect and designer and staff did a great job of giving the library a Pacific Northwestern feel, and I hope the community likes it as much as I do,” said NOLS board member Bill Peach, a Forks resident.
Most of the funding was provided by NOLS, including more than $400,000 from timber/forest products revenue.
The balance was raised by the community with the leadership of the Forks Friends of the Library.
“We hope people who haven’t used the library before will make a point of stopping by,” said Theresa Tetreau, West End library supervisor.
“We want the new-and-improved library to be especially welcoming to people of all ages and backgrounds,” she said.
The library’s regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information, phone the library at 360-374-6402, email Forks@nols.org or visit www.nols.org.
