Library Building Project

As the heart of our community, the San Juan Island Library has served as a center of knowledge and connection for generations. However, with the growing population, demands, and aspirations of our beloved island, the time has come to envision a bigger, brighter future for our library.

Spring 2026 Update

• The Library and the Steering Committee continue collecting feedback from community members. More than 250 pieces of feedback have been submitted so far! This vital step ensures the library planning continues to reflect the community’s needs and values. The presentation materials are available on the Library’s website, and posters of design ideas are on display in the Library at the start of Adult Nonfiction. A feedback form is available on the Library’s website (the green button on the left-hand side of this page), and in printed form at the Library.
•  The design teams are expanding their work on the two design ideas originally shared in our February open house to move the library project forward. They are developing additional interior and exterior details and incorporating input from a new topographic survey and utility-locating work. Civil and structural engineers are also providing input.
• This expansion of the plans provides the necessary information for a general contractor familiar with local building practices to develop reliable estimates, helping define the size and budget of the library project.
• The San Juan Island Community Foundation has initiated a private fundraising effort to support the new building project.
• The Library plans to hire its own fundraiser to coordinate with the Foundation on the project and to
  work on sustainable funding for the Library’s ongoing operations, reinforcing fiscal responsibility and sustainability in our library development.

Library Open House, February 12th

A huge THANK YOU to all those who attended the Open House about the New Library Building Project on February 12^th at the Brickworks. With more than 200 people in attendance, it was an event of lively conversation and thoughtful discussion. Participants could see poster-sized conceptual ideas of what the new library could look like and provide their feedback.

The Library is asking for additional feedback from community members. The presentation materials are now available on the Library’s website (www.sjlib.org/aboutus/library-building-project/), and posters of design ideas are available to view in the Library’s Meeting Room. A feedback form is available on the Library’s website, and in printed form at the Library.

As feedback is collected over these next few months, the Library is working on next steps, which include:

• The Steering Committee will continue to gather feedback to improve the design ideas and ensure the library planning reflects the community’s needs and values.
• The Library will hire a Development Director to collaborate with the San Juan Island Community Foundation in developing a comprehensive fundraising plan for the construction of a library that best serves the current and future needs of the community. Fiscal responsibility and sustainability are priorities of our library development.
• The design teams will continue to explore the two design ideas shared. These designs will be priced by a contractor familiar with local building in order to acquire reliable estimates that can be used to inform the size and budget of the library project.
• The Library will continue to share its progress as available.

Stay tuned for more information as this project develops!

Open House Summary

You can also view this trifold handout as a PDF by clicking this link, or you can come get a printed version at the library.

Library Open House Presentation

You can also view these presentation slides as a pdf by clicking this link. After reviewing this information, let us know what you think! Click on the green feedback form on the left of the page, or come get a feedback postcard at the library to write down your thoughts!