The latest idea for a little-used branch in northwest Grays Harbor County is to move it to Lewis County.
That was the topic of discussion that kicked off this week's facilities committee meeting, which included Timberland Executive Director Cheryl Heywood recommending that the Amanda Park branch be moved to the town of Randle in Lewis County.
"Our recommendation is for you to consider moving that building," she said, adding that alternative library services would then be offered in the area.
Mobile library services are already planned for the area, or what Timberland calls its "anywhere library services," plus library patrons would be offered services by mail, said Deputy Director Kendra Jones during the Tuesday meeting.
Pacific County Trustee Toni Gwin asked a key question: What does it cost to move a building?
Operations Director Brenda Lane estimated that cost at between $200,000 and $250,000.
Surprisingly, Timberland is not a stranger to moving buildings. The Hoodsport, Mason County, branch was created by using the old North Mason library in Belfair, which was then moved by barge to Hoodsport in 1996, according to Timberland information.
Similar to Hoodsport, the Amanda Park branch would be cut into pieces and then reassembled in Lewis County, Lane said.
Another reason for moving the Amanda Park branch is that Timberland has plans to build a new, 2,800-square-foot branch in Randle at a cost of about $1.8 million. But instead of building new, the branch could be relocated and expanded, she said. The cost of the move, the architects and the additional site work would cost about $1.2 million, she said.
Randle is already home to a Timberland library branch, but it's in leased space, according to library information.
Trustee Gwin also inquired about community input as part of the relocation process. Heywood said Timberland has previously held zoom meetings with the community of Amanda Park that were well attended.
"I think this needs to be in person," Gwin said.
Thurston County Trustee Mary Beth Harrington agreed.
"People need to feel like they are at least heard," she said.
Deputy Director Jones warned the trustees that an in-person meeting may be nothing more than hearing from those who don't want the branch to move.
"We may not get a whole lot of groundbreaking information," she said.
Still, both Gwin and Harrington said that meeting needs to happen.
As for when the branch might move is still to be determined, although Lane stressed the need for urgency, saying Timberland has to decide soon on whether to build in Lewis County or move the Amanda Park branch.
She said a decision may need to happen as early as July.
