Submitted by The San Juan Island Library.

The San Juan Island Library is excited to announce its $2 million grant proposal submitted to the Washington Department of Commerce’s Library Capital Improvement Program has advanced to the Legislature for consideration in their 2023 Regular Session.

The Library Capital Improvement Program is a competitive grant program created by the Legislature during their 2019 Regular Session. Its purpose is to assist libraries operated by governmental units, as defined in RCW 27.12.010 to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate their facilities. The Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Library Capital Improvement Program Committee, conducts a statewide competitive grant process to recommend a list of grants to be funded.

These grant funds, if awarded, will go a long way to help make a new, expanded library at 660 Spring Street a reality for San Juan Islanders. The $2 million request represents 10% of the estimated total project cost of $20 million. This total estimated cost includes payoff of the existing property note and all costs associated with design, construction, furniture, and fixtures.

An estimated $6 million will come from philanthropy and other grants during the Library’s capital campaign, and $12 million from a bond to be placed on the ballot on November 8.

“We’re overjoyed that our library’s proposal will move forward to the next round of this grant cycle,” said Laurie Orton, the Library Director. “The campaign to build a library better suited to meet the social, educational, and enrichment needs of San Juan Islanders – now and in the future – is gaining momentum, and this is another positive step forward. We’re so grateful this program continues to be funded by the state to help libraries grow with the changing and expanding roles they play in their communities and we look forward to hearing more news from the Department of Commerce in the spring.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.sjlib.org or contact Amy Saxe-Eyler, the Library Development Director, at asaxe-eyler@sjlib.org or 360-378-2798.