In preparation for opening the nearly complete, new Redmond Library, the Deschutes Public Library announced its temporary library in the city will close on Dec. 21. The new library, on Deschutes Avenue, is set to open in late January.
The closure of the temporary library, which opened in January 2023, comes as staff begin their transition to the new library. DPL has not yet announced a set opening date, as it will be in the process of final move-in activities and staff training.
The new 40,000-square-foot library aims to serve as a community hub, offering twice the square footage of the previous library and a variety of new amenities. The library will have large book and material displays, public meeting rooms, creative spaces, co-working areas and ample seating and access to technology.
“When we went out and talked to the public, meeting space was a really big need, especially in Redmond. So, we’re excited,” Library Director Todd Dunkelberg told the Source Weekly. “We have a community room that holds about 275 people. We have a boardroom-type room that holds about 25 to 30 people, and about seven smaller study spaces where you can sit one-on-one with somebody or do a Zoom meeting. All of these spaces are reservable by the public.”
Other additions include a children’s discovery space for interactive play and learning, a teen space, an outdoor space and drive-up window to allow for more convenient pick-up and drop-off. According to Dunkelberg, the building will feature a variety of art installations, which is already underway.
“Through private donations, we’ve been able to really invest in art for these buildings. Already, we have a very nice art installation at the Redmond Library, and that’s kind of the start of it. We’re looking to add a couple more pieces, but that will be a nice addition for the public,” Dunkelberg said.
As staff move to the new building, they will focus on training and education for new systems and complete finishing touches. With that, there will be no temporary services in Redmond during the transition, according to Dunkelberg.
With a period of transition between the closure and opening of the new library, DPL asks that Redmond customers hold their returns, maintaining that no late fees will be charged for materials. Library customers can return materials to any of the DPL locations, if they choose to do so.
In addition to its nearly complete Redmond library, the DPL is also awaiting construction on its Central Library at Stevens Ranch in southeast Bend. The 100,000-square-foot library broke ground on May 20 and is expected to open sometime in 2026.
The community can expect another shift in operations in 2026 when the library begins its renovations at the Downtown Bend Library. During the renovation, the downtown library will be temporarily closed for about a year.
A library bond, passed in 2020, authorized the library to issue nearly $200 million in general obligation bonds to build the new central library, the Redmond Library and upgrade other area facilities.
This article appears in The Source Weekly December 5, 2024.
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Feels like it was just yesterday that the downtown Bend library opened. It was HUGE! Bend is fortunate to have such fantastic libraries and excellent staff in them.