The Almonte Library Finds a New Temporary Home

The below press release was shared on Tuesday, May 23 regarding the Almonte Library. If you have any questions or get contacted by the media, please send them to Angel Suhrstedt ([email protected]).

The Almonte location of the Metropolitan Library system will be closing its’ current location to the public June 2, 2023, due to a lease issue. The library will move to an alternate temporary space at the far east end of the Almonte shopping center while construction continues on the brand new Almonte Library at 2727 SW 59th Street. The new permanent library is scheduled to open by the end of 2023.

“There are many moving parts that make relocating a library a challenge, especially under a tight schedule,” said MLS Chief Executive Officer Dr. Larry White. “Thankfully, we are an industry focused on finding and sharing information so organizing and planning efficient processes is what we do. We are grateful for our time in this space, and we truly appreciate the assistance we have received from Kenny Smith of SmithKor Investments to find a new temporary location.”

In 2011, the Southern Oaks Library moved to the Almonte Shopping Center for a temporary location while undergoing extensive remodeling. During that time, the Metropolitan Library system recognized a great need for a permanent location to serve the Almonte area. By February 2013, the Almonte Library officially opened in a leased store front in the Almonte Shopping Center. This library was meant to be a temporary space and was intended to serve the community in this building for only one year. Now, the Almonte Library has been serving the community for more than 10 years.

While the current location of the Almonte Library will be closed for a few weeks for the move, guests are encouraged to use the nearby Southern Oaks Library, just a seven-minute drive away.  During this time of transition, staff will be temporarily located to other branches and departments. Throughout the months leading up to opening our new location, you’ll see Almonte staff at our new temporary location as well as out in the community providing programs and services. Please visit us online at metrolibrary.org for more information about locations for Almonte programs this summer.

Meanwhile, construction continues for the new permanent Almonte Library location, an upgrade in size from a 10,000 square foot space to more than 20,000 square feet. The new permanent library will feature a Makerspace, podcasting studio, drive-up book drop, shaded outdoor programming space, and over 40,000 books, magazines, DVDs, and other forms of media in multiple languages.

When one door closes, another one opens, and library staff are excited for the continuing progress on the new Almonte location and the opportunity to connect with library lovers in new ways this summer and fall.