$2 million renovation planned for Langley Library

Changes are on the horizon for the oldest library on Whidbey Island.

The Langley Library, which has been a fixture of the Village by the Sea for nearly a century, is set to receive some much-anticipated updates in the new year related to accessibility and functionality of the building.

The $2 million renovation project, which could start as soon as February, will better utilize the downstairs space of the library and create a meeting room for the public, among other things.

In 2021, Sno-Isle Libraries received a $700,000 capital improvement grant from the state for the project. On top of that, the library system contributed $1.2 million in funds and Friends of the Langley Library raised $30,000.

Since 2022, representatives from Sno-Isle Libraries have been meeting with members of the public, the Langley City Council, the city’s Design Review Board and the Historic Preservation Commission to gather input on the proposed renovation plans.

Sno-Isle Libraries Deputy Director David Durante said nearly 50 people attended a public meeting to review the artistic renderings prepared by architects.

“Which is unheard of for a library building meeting,” he said.

Community feedback has shaped the plans for the project. An original concept for an outdoor gathering space, for example, was scrapped when concerns arose about it impacting the historic look of the building. Similarly, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission worried about a historic fireplace, which is no longer functioning, being completely covered up in the remodel.

Durante said architects are currently adjusting the concept renderings of the renovation in response to comments from the community. The updated renderings were not yet released as of press time on Tuesday. Final plans will need to be approved, most likely in January or February, by the city council and the two citizen-led committees before construction can begin.

The remodeling process is expected to add extra space to the library’s current footprint, which is 3,600 square feet. A downstairs space, currently being used to store city records, unused furniture and holiday decorations, will be converted into additional shelving space for the library. Durante said the hope is also to “eke out” a break room for library staff. To improve accessibility, an elevator will be built so everyone can access the lower level of the library. An outdated outdoor ramp will also be getting a makeover.

But perhaps the most exciting addition is a meeting room on the main floor. Langley Library Manager Vicky Welfare has been with the library for nearly 25 years and said having a designated space that can be closed off from the rest of the library is a huge need. Currently, the space needs to be reconfigured and furniture needs to be wheeled out when library programs take place.

In the years following the pandemic, both Welfare and Durante said, the Langley Library has become a hub for connectivity, with digital usage and activity increasing.

“One of the things that we discovered during the power outage on the island was that we became a place for people to plug in and connect to the wifi which we were able to do because we share a generator with the city,” Durante said.

He added that there has been a growing demand for “Zoom rooms,” small, partitioned places where people can join a video conference call without disturbing other patrons of the library. These will likely be included in the Langley Library’s remodel.

Although it’s unknown whether the whole library or part of it will be closed down initially, services will still be offered in some fashion, whether it’s in the form of the Sno-Isle Libraries Bookmobile, a pop-up library in a rented storefront or something else. It’s also not currently known how long construction will take.

“The biggest wild card is whether we can get products on a really regular schedule and different building supplies,” Durante said. “The supply chain is quirky right now.”

Even so, the anticipation and excitement in the community is palpable. The Langley Library has not had a significant update since 1993.

The renovation also comes just in time for the library’s 100th birthday.

“What a great way to celebrate that by updating the facility and hopefully having all kinds of new things,” Welfare said.