SMOKEY POINT — The newest library in Snohomish County is set to celebrate this weekend.
The Lakewood/Smokey Point Library opens at 9:30 a.m Saturday. It’s at 3411 169th Place NE, near the Lowe’s and Tractor Supply stores off Smokey Point Boulevard. Sno-Isle Libraries is leasing space there for $84,000 a year.
There’s been talk of a new library in Smokey Point for years. It was one of the needs listed in the library district’s most recent facilities plan. The location is expected to serve more than 20,000 people who live within the Sno-Isle district but are not close to its other libraries.
This is the third demonstration library to open in recent years. A pilot project on Camano Island turned into a permanent library at Terry’s Corner in 2015. A new Mariner Library at the south end of Everett opened about a year ago. Sno-Isle has a five-year lease on that space while district leaders look at options for a more long-term location.
Like the previous two demonstrations, the Lakewood/Smokey Point Library offers a chance to assess what the area needs from a library and to start planning for a possible permanent home.
Sno-Isle Executive Director Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory has said she believes these pilot libraries are some of the best projects the district has done. As the area’s population swells, traffic worsens and access to technology becomes increasingly important, libraries can be an important resource for people. They also offer a place for classes and events, such as storytimes for children or business workshops for adults.
The Smokey Point location is the 23rd library operated by Sno-Isle, which spans Snohomish and Island counties. It has free wireless internet, and cardholders can request any of the more than 1.2 million items available across all of the libraries, according to a news release.
The library is scheduled to remain open until 6 p.m. after the Saturday morning celebration, then from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday. After opening weekend, regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The manager of the library is Jocelyn Redel.
Saturday’s grand opening includes a ribbon-cutting, speeches and live music by a group from Lakewood High School.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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