By Zorina Barker, Forum Correspondent

Imagine being in the library, sitting in an overstuffed chair by the fireplace, listening to someone gently playing the guitar while you read an e-book or chat with a friend.

“It’s a different library,” said Theresa Tetreau, the West End library supervisor.

Excitement is growing in the staff and frequent users often stare in the windows to watch construction progress, asking often, Tetreau said, “When will it open?”

“The date of the opening is a moving target,” she said. “We hope to be all in and open by the end of this year.”

Tetreau said the community of library users have been “really good sports for being kicked out of their old library.”

A grand opening celebration is in the works at which time the extensive list of those who contributed to the project’s success will be publicly thanked.

“We are looking forward to being back in the old place that’s new,” librarian Rebecca Barker said.

Of course, people still come to check out books and movies, as well as use the reference materials; however many are accessing a wider variety of information by modern means, Tetreau said.

“Computers use is a big part of the services the community is seeking from the library,” she said.

For 30 years, the Forks Library has been in the Forks Avenue building that is being remodeled and it never had a face-lift or an update.

Library officials began four years ago planning to bring the building in line with the needs of the community. The library also needed to fix the leaky roof and make the building more energy efficient.

A budget of $835,000 was established; $650,000 from the library system (including timber revenue), while the remaining $185,000 was raised by the Friends of Forks Library and private donations.

Priorities included several technological upgrades as well as providing an after-hours meeting space for the nonprofit groups of the community to use.

Gerry Schlie, an architect from Beaver, Hoch Construction, and Trisa & Co. from Port Angeles listened to input and concerns from the local staff and library system employees in an effort to incorporate the area’s culture into the design.

They call it a “third space,” a place where people can connect and meet face to face. Not work, not school and not home; library officials wanted to make the building a comfortable, neutral zone.

Forks artisan Martin Dillon made furniture that will be used inside, creating a comfortable spot by the fireplace.

Library staff is excited about some items to make their atmosphere more workable, such as roll-away shelving, a huge check-out desk and a self-check-out station, Tetreau said.

Ellen Matheny with the Friends of Forks Library reported last week CenturyLink had provided a $10,000 donation to the library. That, Matheny said, will be used to pay for the self-check-out station, an additional computer station and a fully-wired conference table and big screen television for a conference room.

More technology upgrades in the new library will allow people to use their own mobile device or laptop in the library.

Along the west wall, by the oversized windows, is a computer bar where there will be four permanent computers and plugs allowing for six personal set-ups.

The remodeled building will have 10 or more, including an express station for folks who just need to check on something quickly.