Updated 4/18/2023
The newly renovated and expanded Unalaska Public Library is scheduled to open April 30.
To prepare, City Librarian Karen Kresh said the temporary library in the Burma Road Chapel will close to the public on Monday, April 17.
That means there’ll be about two weeks without community access to the library, as city staff transfers collection materials and puts finishing touches on the new permanent space.
“City of Unalaska staff and contractors will work on setting up the final shelves in the building and moving books, supplies, artwork, and other items from storage,” said Kresh in a statement.
During the closure, library patrons can return materials to the book drop at the new building, located at 64 Eleanor Street near the senior center. The book drop is next to the front door.
Kresh said city staff is working hard to get the new building ready, and she called for community volunteers to help move some of the materials.
Volunteers and staff will form a human chain Wednesday afternoon to pass the children’s picture and chapter books one at a time from the temporary library to the new building.
"It’s like 800 or 900 feet for that route," said Kresh in an interview. "So we need about 200 or 300 people to stretch between Burma Road Chapel and the new library and pass our books, one to one.”
Volunteers should gather Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the parking lot at the front of the community center. Kresh said the process should be pretty quick.
"We’ll just pass books for about half an hour," she said. "By the time we form our line, pass books for about half an hour, we’ll be wrapping it up at 2 p.m."
Kresh also invited the community to the grand opening celebration on Sunday, April 30, at 1 p.m.
Following the celebration, the library will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
