NCW Libraries opens pop-up library during Chelan branch refresh

CHELAN — NCW Libraries has launched a pop-up library and added a temporary location for children’s story time while the Chelan Public Library undergoes an interior refresh scheduled for completion next spring.

The project includes upgraded shelving and furniture, new paint, partial flooring upgrades, new private reservable meeting spaces, and an improved service desk.

During the closure, the pop-up library is located in the entryway of the Chelan Library, where the former Friends of the Library bookstore was housed.

Hours of operation are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m., with access to physical collection items and public computers. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the pop-up library is open from 2 to 4 p.m. for collection access only.

The temporary space offers a selection of books, movies and other materials, as well as a cart of jigsaw puzzles available for borrowing.

Children’s story time has been relocated to the Lake Chelan Community Center and will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. The program, designed for preschool-aged children and their caregivers, features stories, rhymes and interactive fun. Dates are available on the library’s online calendar at ncwlibraries.libcal.com/calendar.

The redesign was shaped by feedback from more than 200 community members who participated in engagement events. Community input favored a blend of “Off the Grid” and “Retreat” design concepts and identified a desire for a “Family Fun and Play” focus. The refreshed library will aim to balance the needs of patrons of all ages while providing a calm and welcoming environment.

For more information, visit www.ncwlibraries.org.