Raymond, WA - The Raymond Timberland Library will be closed from Tuesday, August 21 through Monday, September 10 for major repairs and painting of the interior walls. The library expects to reopen at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11. The project 
Various weather and building issues have left large areas of water stains and cracking in the plaster. “Water damage has been accumulating for many years and plaster has been flaking and falling onto books and floors,” said Raymond Timberland Library Manager, Emily Popovich. “The sources of the damage have been repaired. After repairs to the plaster are complete, the walls and ceiling of this historical building will be restored to their original appearance,” said Popovich.
 Plaster throughout the main public areas on both floors as well as the entrance, foyer, bathrooms, conference room and children’s room will be repaired and where necessary replaced. The project will include demolishing delaminated plaster, re-lathing, reframing and re-plastering. Cracks and seams will be filled and new paint applied. Shane Moncy of Coastline Roofing Systems of South Bend will perform the work.
“This is a ‘messy, dusty’ job to repair the aging plaster. After many discussions about how to move the collections away from the walls, cover and protect all the computers, repair plaster and paint the walls and ceilings, it was decided to close the library during the work,” wrote Gwen Culp, the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) Interim Library Director, in a report to the TRL Board of Trustees. “Keeping libraries open during renovation work is ideal, but sometimes for patron and staff safety, repairs are best completed when closed,” said Culp.
Library services during the closure Patrons may wonder what to do if their library books, movies or other library items are due during the closure period. Popovich said that items checked out now will not actually be due until September 11. However, library staff will empty the book drops and check books in at another Timberland library so people may use the book drops as usual. Patron holds will not expire during the closure. Holds that are due to expire on Tuesday, September 11 will be held at the library an additional three days for patron pickup. As alternatives, people may change their holds pickup location to another library or suspend their holds until a later date. They can do this by logging into their accounts at www.TRL.org, by calling a Timberland library or by calling TRL's Central Reference librarians at 1-800-562-6022. Library staff will be happy to help with these procedures. For in-person library services, Raymond Timberland Library patrons will be welcomed at the South Bend Timberland Library, which is located at 1st and Pacific, telephone (360)875-5532, and at any other Timberland library they wish to visit. Cost and funding In July, the Leslie V. and Stella J. Raymond Foundation awarded $50,000 to improve the condition of the plaster in the interior of the Raymond Timberland Library. The grant will also cover part of the cost of painting. TRL will pay the remaining cost, an estimated $3,000. As required by the Foundation, the work will be done by a local contractor. Mayor Robert Jungar of the City of Raymond attended pre-construction meetings and Shane Moncy of Coastline Roofing Systems was awarded the contract. Raymond Timberland Library and other TRL staff will move the books and shelving and replace them when the project is complete. A little history The Raymond Library was built in 1929 on land donated to the city for a library. Prior to the establishment of Timberland Regional Library, the Raymond Library was the headquarters for the Pacific County Library District. The neo-Tudor building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The plaque at the library reads: “Under the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 this property possesses exceptional value in illustrating American history and culture.” The Raymond Foundation was established in 1962 as a non-profit organization to fund scholarships and community development projects. “TRL is very grateful for the grant from the Raymond Foundation and looks forward to a much improved Raymond Timberland Library,” said TRL Director Culp. Reopening day On September 11, the planned reopening day, the Friends and the local Board of the Raymond Timberland Library will meet at 4 p.m. At 6 p.m., Pajama Story Time for children and families will begin. The public will be kept informed in the event of a delay in opening. The Raymond Timberland Library is located at 507 Duryea Street. For more information, call the library at (360) 942-2408, go to www.TRL.org or telephone the TRL Central Reference Service librarians toll free at 1-800-562-6022.
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