RSSLibrary Projects Under Construction
The Library currently has five projects under construction, funded by the $77 million bond voters passed in 2018. There have been no major pandemic implications to the construction timelines and we are looking forward to opening four out of five projects this year. Read on to learn about each project. You may also watch a time lapse of the construction projects here.
Liberty Park
Located adjacent to the aquatic center at Liberty Park, this building is nearly double in size to the existing East Side Library that it will replace. This location will feature beautiful westward views of the park and a Sasquatch-themed children’s area. The library also includes a quiet reading room, two group study rooms, and a large event space. This building is expected to open in summer 2021.
Shadle Park
The Shadle Park Library renovation nearly doubles the size of the existing library to 30,000 square feet. Visitors to the new Shadle Park Library will enjoy access to a large event space, several private study rooms, a maker studio, and an enhanced children’s area called Moose’s Market. Shadle Park Library is expected to open in summer 2021.
Hillyard
The new Hillyard Library will be located on the Shaw Middle School campus, positioned next to the Shaw Middle School Library with a retractable door to accommodate library access outside of school hours. The library’s partnership with Spokane Public Schools efficiently uses tax-payer funds to expand services to the community. The new library boasts a mountain-themed children’s area, three private group study rooms, a large event space, and a maker studio. The new Hillyard Library is expected to open in fall 2021.
The Hive™
In partnership with Spokane Public Schools, the Library is building a cutting-edge facility in the Sprague Union District. Called The Hive™ for the variety of learning and arts activities that will take place there, this building will provide event/training facilities and offices for Spokane Virtual Learning as well as a maker studio and studio spaces for local artists. This building already won an architecture award from The American Institute of Architects Spokane chapter in the unbuilt category. The Hive™ will open in summer 2021.
Central
Spokane’s main library, the three story, 117,000 square foot space located downtown, will reopen in spring 2022 as a citywide hub of 21st century library services. After reopening, this library will be renamed Central Library. Highlights of the new Central Library include large event spaces overlooking Spokane Falls, media studios including a public recording studio, an underwater-themed children’s area, and, of course, plenty of room for the library’s collection. Ample meeting and small study rooms will punctuate each floor of the building, offering a variety of choices for community use.
Indian Trail and South Hill libraries will also be lightly renovated. Design work began on those projects and construction will begin in summer 2021.
This year might just be the perfect one for sending holiday cards. Since we can’t see our friends and extended family in person this year, a card that lets someone know you’re thinking of them can really brighten their day!
On December 2, 2020, Spokane Public Library will be moving our digital ebooks and audiobooks from RBdigital to the Libby app as part of our 
