A citizens’ committee will meet June 30 to discuss ways to provide library service for the Lakewood and Tillicum areas following the recent closure and pending relocation of the Lakewood branch of Pierce County Library System.
The meeting of the Lakewood Library Community Advisory Committee is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. online via Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81019790848, meeting ID 810 1979 0848. It can also be watched in-person at the library system’s (PCLS) administrative center at 3005 112th St. E. Public comments can be e-mailed to lakewoodcac@pcls.us.
PCLS and Lakewood city officials formed the committee from community members who volunteered.
The committee will advise officials after reviewing public input and options for library facilities. For the Lakewood branch, the latter include keeping and refurbishing the current structure, building a new one on the current site or a different site, and renovating an existing building. The Tillicum options are to keep that branch’s current facility or build a new one somewhere else.
The committee could give its recommendation to the PCLS Board of Trustees and the Lakewood City Council this fall. After that, the board will determine the next steps.
Structural deficiencies caused PCLS to close the Lakewood branch in June and prepare for library services in a temporary location.
According to PCLS officials, repairs to the Lakewood branch building will cost $10 million to $15 million. Work would include replacing the roof and damage from leaks, replacing an elevator and the HVAC and plumbing system.
Additional information is at lakewoodcac@pcls.us.