Politics & Government
Lake Forest Park Library Closes for Expansion
As the result of a $172 million capital bond, the Lake Forest Park Library will close Saturday July 16 as expansion begins.
In June, the King County Library System was recognized as the 2011 Library of the Year by the Library Journal. But the excitement swings much closer to home. Beginning this Saturday (July 16), the Lake Forest Park Library will be closed as expansion commences.
The expansion is a result of the KCLS Capital Improvement Plan (CIS) launched in 2004, which included a $172 million capital bond designated to augment KCLS libraries throughout the next ten years. Estimated to cost approximately $676,000, the enlargement will add an additional 2,273 square feet to the present layout, including a multi-purpose room, expanded children, teen and adult sections, and a cyber bar to accommodate laptop use.
With the present lack of a multi-purpose room, the library has been forced to reserve the Third Place Commons’ meeting room for teen and adult events as well as staff meetings. Disadvantages of the current arrangement include the obvious dissociation from the library itself, excessive noise, and often the inability to reserve the room. “It will be really nice to have an area to set aside for quiet study,” said Zina Stockinger, Lead Library Assistant.
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Post-expansion, the Lake Forest Park Library hopes to host many additional community programs and relocate current programs such as Children’s Story Time back into the library. “We would like to add more adult programming, maybe some life-long learning classes,” said Deirdre Miller, Managing Librarian. Further programming options will be discussed during the renovation.
“The new library will provide a more logical and better use of the space for people to enjoy the library,” said Stockinger. “It will be much more spread out, and people will have the opportunity to see more areas of the collection.”
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The refurbished library is projected to be finished in December. While closed for construction, the old Avid Angler space located across from the library will serve as the temporary location for dropping off and picking up holds. You can also check out books from the Shoreline Library or the newly erected Kenmore Library. For more information on the remodel of the Lake Forest Park Library, call 206-362-8860 or visit http://www.kcls.org/lakeforestpark/#closure.