Aging Spokane Valley library hopes to find new home | Arts & Culture

View Possible Spokane Valley Library Relocation in a larger map

The City of Spokane Valley is taking a look at the possible relocation of the Valley Public Library and the impact it might have on the city.

They're holding a public meeting on May 30th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the possible move. The meeting will be at the Spokane Valley Fire Department Station 1 located at 10319 E. Sprague Avenue.

Right now the Valley Library is located at 12004 E. Main Ave. According to Jane Baker, communication manager for the Spokane County Library District, the current library was built in 1955 and has since outgrown its space.

The proposed move would put the new library at the empty lot next to Balfour Park near 10300. E Sprague.

"Anyone who visits the library knows it can be very busy and has a tendency to get overcrowded. We want to be able to offer more to our citizens and we hope this moves smoothly," Baker said.

The library is working with the Spokane Valley City Council to perform a traffic study to see how the relocation would affect the area.

Spokane Valley spokeswoman Carolbelle Branch is encouraging community members to come out to the planning meeting, but emphasizes that this is only a initial look at how the proposed relocation would affect the area, not an announcement of anything moving forward.

"Anybody who is interested in finding out more about the traffic impact and the study itself should come to the meeting. [It would be] of interest to anyone who lives, works or travels through the area," Branch said.

According to the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, changes could include increased traffic in areas surrounding the library, changes in traffic patterns and impacts to on-street parking.

The study also examines possible measures to mitigate the impacts, including road, sidewalk or transit modifications and changes to traffic patterns.

Baker says that voters could see this issue on the ballot in one to three years. Voters would have to approve a levy to fund the construction of the new library.