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Soap Lake Library celebrating renewed look, efficient layout

Jun. 12—SOAP LAKE — One Soap Lake resident walks into the library, takes one lap around the building, stopping to look at a couple of things. Before he walks out, he turns to the librarian with a smile on his face. "Looks good in here," he said before walking out. Stephanie Jackson, the temporary librarian at the Soap Lake Library, has said this has been a common occurrence since the May 23 soft opening of the renovated library. "People have been walking in, or sometimes they just stand at the door, look around at all of the new upgrades. Sometimes they give me a compliment about the new features. Sometimes they just walk right back out," Jackson said. "Some people sit down and enjoy the amenities. It all just depends, but I think people are excited." The Soap Lake Library will have its Grand Reopening Celebration on June 20 at 9 a.m., where there will be activities and opportunities to sign up for the Summer Library Program and renew or get a library card. "The mayor will be here, and I will do kind of a grand opening sort of thing," Jackson said. "We are having a story time before that. We will also be doing a drum beater craft. One of our local artists has made a large Native American drum that's made with cedar and pine and buffalo skin, and so at our grand opening, he's going to come and teach everybody how to make the drum beaters. For that, the library is providing the supplies, and he'll lead the class. The next day, when they're doing the drum ceremony as part of the Soap Lake Food and Folk Festival, hopefully those people who made drum beaters will be able to participate in that drum ceremony." The library renovations include updated bookshelves, fresh paint, new flooring, an improved service point, modern furniture, upgraded lighting, a public-use TV, a staff office area and a soon-to-be-installed reservable public meeting room. "People can expect it to feel much brighter and more open," Jackson said. "We have arranged the new bookshelves so that they're more efficient. A lot of people have come here so far and asked if our collection is smaller, and it's actually not. We just are a bit more efficient, which gives more space for seating areas. We've got a few larger tables where people can sit and put down their things and work. Another thing that adds to the brightness is that all the lights have been replaced with LED lighting. I think that helps." Amenities of the library include books, DVDs, public computers, free wireless internet, early literacy computers, lakeside view seating, scanning, copying, faxing and printing. Mayor Peter Sharp said he is very pleased with the upgrades. "I know that the Soap Lake Library is a staple for the city," Sharp said. "It's a meeting place. It engages all age groups, which is really phenomenal, and they have broken it down into new pod sections and also made it a friendly environment. They also have removable shelves that are on caster wheels to open up the space for larger groups. It's updated, modern, friendly, and the new staff that they have, there are phenomenal people." Sharp said another nice feature is that the library is open to everyone, whether they have a library card or not. "Another benefit is the library does offer a safe space for when the temperature outside is too hot. They have the ability to go in there if it's too hot outside to cool down, or when it's too cold to warm up," Sharp said. "That's a nice feature for the community." Sharp and Jackson said there are still some final upgrades to come prior to the grand opening. Sharp said public works are beginning to work on upgrading the parking lot to cover some potholes, adding a stop sign near the church and the library, replacing one more window and working on completing the conference room. "So overall, I'm excited," Sharp said. "It's right on the lake. I know out back they're talking, possibly putting some benches and stuff out there. So, people do have the ability to go outside to enjoy the grass and lakefront view while reading a book." Soap Lake Library 32 East Main Street Soap Lake, WA 509-246-1313 SoapLake@ Hours Sunday and Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grand Opening June 20, 9 a.m.