Area Navigation

500 Residents Attend the Carnation Library Opening!

With a turnout of more than 500 people, about a fourth of the city of Carnation attended the opening of the new Carnation Library on Saturday, January 31.

As community members, local dignitaries and library staff gathered outside the new library, two small ensembles from Tolt Middle School entertained the crowd with a few songs. KCLS Director Bill Ptacek welcomed everyone to the new library, saying the newly completed 5,000 square foot building was a team effort among many people.

Carnation Mayor Mike Flowers thanked KCLS, saying it seemed like the community had just gathered for the groundbreaking event.

“Thank you to KCLS for bringing this great facility here,” Flowers said. “This is a great place to live and raise a family and we will enjoy the library for years to come.”

KCLS Board of Trustees member Rob Spitzer addressed the crowd, saying he was excited to help open the new library, which is the last of five libraries to be built using the design-build construction process.

“The library is a link,” Spitzer said. “It will link the people and ideas to the whole world.”

The architect and builder also said a few words, and explained that they are preserving the character of the library with Native American paintings that were salvaged from the former building. One piece of artwork has already been installed and many more are to come.

Bill Ptacek invited all the children to help cut the ribbon. Once the doors opened, community members were greeted by Dewey and Sketch and enjoyed refreshments and giveaways, including book bags, coloring books, bookmarks and buttons with a rendering of the new library.