Get the latest on the Lakewood Pierce County Library.

INTERIM LAKEWOOD LIBRARY

The interim Lakewood Pierce County Library will open to the public on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W. and Alfaretta St. S.W.

Get the latest information on the interim Lakewood Library. 

Blue building housing interim Lakewood Library

CURRENT LAKEWOOD LIBRARY SERVICES

The Library System is offering pop-up libraries and services with community partners throughout Lakewood. People can check out books, movies and other materials as well as participate in classes and events at the pop-up libraries and community places. Find events throughout Lakewood or attend a story time.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The interim library will allow the public to have the full range of access to library services while a long-term decision about Lakewood and Tillicum Pierce County Library is being determined. A community advisory committee, created by the Library System and the City of Lakewood, reviewed options for how to provide quality library services in the long term for Lakewood and Tillicum. The committee provided its recommendation to the Library’s Board of Trustees and Lakewood City Council at a joint meeting on Nov. 17, 2022. The Board of Trustees is considering next steps for the Lakewood and Tillicum libraries.

LAKEWOOD LIBRARY CLOSURE UPDATES

Lakewood Library on Wildaire Road S.W.

In June 2022, the Library System closed the aging Lakewood Library because it was in critical and unsafe condition and needed significant maintenance and repair.

Engineers now project the building needs approximately $22 million in repairs and replacements, to bring the 59-year-old building up to code for safety with seismic engineering and fire, as well as systems such as mechanical, electrical and plumbing. This September 2022 structural engineering report is more in-depth than a 2021 architects’ building condition assessment that estimated the current building required $10 million-$15 million in repairs for improved safety and access, including replacing the roof, HVAC and plumbing.

Appraisers estimated the value of the current property at $1.5 million.

In September 2022, workers installed tarps where the most significant deterioration on the roof of the current Lakewood Library is located, to prepare for the upcoming rainy season. While tarps cannot completely prevent further water damage, installing tarps is the only option to attempt to reduce further deterioration as the Library System Board of Trustees reviews the Community Advisory Committee’s recommendation about the building long-term.

In consultation with, the City of Lakewood, the Library System installed a temporary fence around the Lakewood Library to further protect the property.

More information.

Closure Myths and Facts

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