In the past month, contractors have readied the site to prepare for the installation of the interim Lakewood Pierce County Library. They connected the water, prepared electricity to tie into the site, and completed other work on the foundation and property with plans to install the building in mid-April.
If the construction plan holds, the projected opening date of the interim Lakewood Library is August. Click here for more information.
Long-term Lakewood Libraries
Study Sessions
The Library’s Board of Trustees‘ first of two in-person study sessions to work on the long-term direction for Lakewood libraries is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Administrative Center Meeting Room B (3005 112th St. E., Tacoma). This session is focused on the downtown Lakewood Library.
The second session is planned for Saturday, May 11, 2-24 p.m., and will focus on the Tillicum Pierce County Library.
These meetings are open to the public to attend and observe.
Lakewood Library on Wildaire Road SW
The Trustees approved a purchase order for a contractor to demolish the Lakewood Library building on Wildaire Road SW in the coming months. At the April Board meeting, the Trustees reflected on this significant step and the importance of continued reflection on the important contributions the Lakewood Library has given to the community with generations growing up in the building the past 60 years.
The building removal aligns with the Lakewood Libraries Building Community Advisory Committee’s recommendation to keep the library at the same location and building a new facility on the current location, and if that is not possible, the committee recommended building a new library in an equally accessible location.
The Big One
Prep work continues with the City of Lakewood to move The Big One, the Douglas fir slice, at the current Lakewood Library to Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood.
Current Lakewood Library Services
The Pierce County Library offers pop-up libraries and services with community partners throughout Lakewood. You may check out books, movies and other materials as well as participate in classes and events at the pop-up libraries and community places.
Visit lakewoodlib.pcls.us for up-to-date info on services and locations. Following is a menu of some of the classes and events:
Spanish/English Story Time
Saturday, April 13, 20 and 27, 1-1:30 p.m.
Tillicum Pierce County Library
Bilingual story time in English and Spanish. Tiempo de cuentos bilingüe en español e inglés.
Drop-In Tech Help
Monday, April 15, 22 and 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Tillicum Pierce County Library
Bring your questions and devices, and staff will help with basic tech problems.
Tillicum Talks Books
Monday, April 15, 4-5 p.m.
Tillicum Pierce County Library
Join others in the community to discuss a different genre each month. April’s theme: A book with a one word title.
Family Story Time
Tuesday, April 16, 23 and 30, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Lakewood City Hall (Council Chambers), 6000 Main St. SW
Thursday, April 18, 25 and May 2, 10-11 a.m.
Clover Park Technical College (Bldg. 15), 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood
Enjoy stories, art activities, rhymes, singing and fingerplays for the whole family.
Library Pop-Up
Thursday, April 18, 25 and May 2, 9 a.m.-noon
Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St. SW
Access limited library services.
Cuentos Bilingües: Spanish/English Story Time/Cuentos en Español e Inglés
Thursday, April 18, 25 and May 2, 11-11:45 a.m.
Lakewood Family Resource Center, 11150 Gravelly Lake Drive SW
Disfrute libros bilingües, rimas, canciones y arte con Miss Bryna! Enjoy bilingual books, rhymes, songs and art with Miss Bryna!
Friends of the Lakewood and Tillicum Libraries Book Sale
Saturday, April 20, 1-4 p.m.
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 10630 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood
Purchase great books and more at great prices!
Toddler Story Time
Wednesday, April 24, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Lakewood Family Resource Center, 11150 Gravelly Lake Drive SW
Enjoy simple picture books, songs, fingerplays and movement games. Ages 2-3.
Dìa de los Niños/Day of the Children
Saturday, April 27, 1-2:30 p.m.
Tillicum Pierce County Library
Join us for a fun time with music, books and other activities to Celebrate Children’s Day! Ven a Celebrar Día de los Niños con nosotros con música, libros y más actividades divertidas!
Lakewood Book Banter
Friday, May 3, 2-3 p.m.
Lakewood History Museum, 6114 Motor Ave. SW
Share what you’re reading and get suggestions for your next read from library staff.
Please enjoy services at nearby DuPont, Steilacoom, Tillicum and University Place Pierce County Libraries.
“These meetings are open to the public to attend and observe.”
Any public comment period? Sure would be nice if this unelected board listened TO HEAR what the Lakewood Residents wanted in the Main and Tillicum branches. There have been so many comments, here in the Suburban Times, and as has been questioned before … Does anyone from the Library Board even read these comments?
doesn’t look like it, as they surge forward with tax payers $$. I think this is wrong in so many ways. has anyone in this group, ever heard the word FRUGAL??
Fact is, there’s a public comment period, and opportunity for on-line presence, at every meeting of the PCLS Trustees. Also, together with KM Hills, Mayor Whalen, our city council, staff, and citizens throughout Lakewood, and particularly the executive staff administering PCLS, I’m confident that a lot of people care about our beleaguered libraries – Lakewood and Tillicum.
I’m also confident of visionary leadership, within constraints of funding and law, that a path forward will reveal for citizen response to the challenge and opportunity before us to re-establish Lakewood’s library heritage in a manner that recognizes our libraries have been and will be the centering nexus of our cultural civic experience.
It will remain to all of us to pitch in with positive energy, time, money, mentorship and support, as contemplation looms in months and years ahead for eventual consideration of a bond issue, to express our vision for new libraries at the re-vitalized heart of our city and Lakewood community.
There is a public comment period, and opportunity for on-line presence, at every meeting of the PCLS Trustees. Together with our city council, staff, and citizens throughout Lakewood, and particularly the executive staff administering PCLS, I’m confident that a lot of people care about our libraries. I’m also confident of visionary leadership, within constraints of funding and law, that a path forward will reveal the challenge and opportunity before us to re-establish Lakewood’s library heritage in a manner recognizing that libraries are the centering nexus of our cultural civic experience.
It will remain to all of us to pitch in with positive energy, time, money, mentorship and support, as contemplation looms in months and years ahead for eventual consideration of a bond issue, to express our vision for new libraries at the re-vitalized heart of our city and Lakewood community.