Something exciting is coming to Cashmere — and it’s worth the wait.
On Saturday, May 30th, the Cashmere Library will close its current doors for the last time as we prepare to move into a beautiful new home at the Riverside Center, in close partnership with the City of Cashmere. We expect to welcome you back at the new location on June 29th, with a Grand Opening Celebration to in August.
More than 570 community members participated in surveys and conversations during a public engagement process in fall 2024. Their feedback directly shaped the design, priorities, and features of the new library.
“This new space was truly built by and for the Cashmere community,” said Lisa Lawless, Branch Librarian for the Cashmere Library. “Every design decision, from the children’s area to the meeting rooms, reflects what residents told us they needed. We’re incredibly proud of what this partnership has made possible. We can’t wait to welcome everyone into the new library!
Rural Libraries Made Possible through Partnership
The new Cashmere Library reflects the unique partnership model that makes rural library service possible across North Central Washington.
While the City of Cashmere provides and maintains the library building, NCW Libraries supplies the staff, collections, technology, furniture, digital resources, programs, and operational support that connect local residents to the resources of a regional library system.
This collaboration allows communities like Cashmere to offer expanded services, modern technology, professional expertise, and access to extensive physical and digital collections that would be difficult for a small municipality to provide independently. At the same time, NCW Libraries relies on strong partnerships with local municipalities to ensure communities have welcoming, accessible library spaces.
In Cashmere, the City’s decision to invest in a larger, updated facility created an opportunity for NCW Libraries to contribute nearly $460,000 toward renovations, shelving, furnishings, lighting, and other improvements through its Reimagining Spaces Project. Together, the City of Cashmere and NCW Libraries have created a library designed around direct community input and built to serve Cashmere for years to come.
What’s Changing (for the Better!)
The new library space has been thoughtfully designed with Cashmere residents in mind, literally. Community voices shaped every corner of the new space. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find:
- More space and a larger collection of books and materials
- A children’s area designed for play and early literacy, with interactive furnishings, the beloved salmon tank, cozy seating for families, and nearby tables for caregivers
- A dedicated teen/tween corner with a curated collection and comfortable lounge seating
- Three new meeting rooms, including a teleservices room for remote healthcare and learning appointments, a small study room for up to four people, and a large meeting room for up to 35
- An art hanging system to showcase local creativity
- More restrooms (a small thing that makes a big difference!)
- Fresh paint, new carpet, updated furniture and shelving, and energy-efficient lighting throughout
- ADA push-button door openers at the main entrance and patio door
The community voted on a design theme centered on family fun and play — and the new space delivers just that.
What You Need to Know During the Closure
While the Cashmere Library is closed from May 30-June 27, here’s how to keep reading and stay connected:
- Holds will default to the Wenatchee Public Library during the closure. If you’d prefer to pick up holds at another library, update your home library online or call 509-663-1117.
- The book return at the current Cashmere Library will remain open through June 1. Beginning June 1, the book drop at the new location will be opened for returns.
- After-hours Wi-Fi will not be available during the closure.
- The Peshastin Library and other nearby branches are open and ready to serve you.
- Our digital library is always open at ncwlibraries.org/ebooks.
A Heartfelt Thank You
This move has been a true community effort and a powerful example of what’s possible when local communities and regional library systems invest in one another.
NCW Libraries extends deep gratitude to the City of Cashmere for its continued commitment to library service and for providing the new library facility at Riverside Center.
Special thanks go to Mayor Jim Fletcher, Steve Croci, and Public Works Foreman Paul Clarin, to the Cashmere City Council, to the community members who shared their vision for the future of the library, and to the NCW Libraries staff who helped bring this project to life.
Funding for the project included nearly $460,000 from the NCW Libraries Reimagining Spaces Project, a generous contribution from the Simpson Fund, and a state legislative appropriation sponsored by Representative Keith Goehner to support accessibility improvements.
We can’t wait to welcome you into the new Cashmere Library. It was built for the community — and it shows.
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