West Olympia Timberland Library expanding in Capital Mall

Timberland Regional Library (TRL) has expanded and updated the West Olympia Timberland Library in Capital Mall beginning Feb. 1 to offer more space for patrons visiting the busy location.

During construction, West Olympia Timberland Library will remain open with reduced hours. Visitors can stop by the location at 625 Black Lake Boulevard Southwest in Olympia Monday through Sunday 2–6 p.m. throughout the project. The project is expected to last two months.

Patrons can look forward to new paint, commercial grade flooring, furniture, a new circulation desk, electrical and data upgrades, and lighting, said West Olympia Timberland Library Manager Kerry Martin. The floor space of the location will be doubled by adding 1,200 square feet to allow for a larger collection and more space for patrons to spend time in the library.

“We will have a larger children’s collection on site, including materials for our youngest readers, and there will be more space for kids to hang out,” Martin said.

A larger section for ages birth to 5 years will be included in the collection to support early learning, Martin said.

All current amenities and services including Wi-Fi, printing services and iPads for in-library use will be available while TRL Operations staff work as quietly as possible on the refresh project. The library will close completely for two to three days while the front of the store is being repainted. Dates of closure have not yet been determined, but updates on hours and closures can be found on TRL.org.

This planned renovation is part of an effort to adapt library services and spaces to meet the community's needs and requests, Martin said.

“This is more of what folks have been asking for,” Martin said.

West Olympia Timberland Library opened June 1, 2021, as part of a two-year pilot project to provide library services in underserved areas with high patron traffic. The location has been so successful that despite being one of the smallest TRL libraries with a limited collection, it now ranks nine out of 29 TRL locations in volume of circulation. The upcoming refresh is a direct result of the library's success and the needs of patrons who visit the location.

“It’s becoming a regional destination for people who want to check out our library system,” Martin said.

West Olympia Timberland Library also will be one of several TRL locations changing its hours. Once the expansion project is complete, the library will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Other TRL locations in Thurston County that are changing hours include Olympia, Lacey, and Hawks Prairie. Beginning Feb. 5, 2023, Olympia and Lacey will be open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Hawks Prairie will be open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For ongoing information on the expansion project visit the West Olympia Timberland Library location page on the TRL website, TRL.org. Visit TRL.org for all location hours and up-to-date information.