NCW Libraries Statement on the Future of the Omak Library

Over the past month, there has been much discussion about the future of the Omak Public Library. On February 4, 2026, NCW Libraries sent a letter to the Omak City Council in response to recent internal city communications that have been circulating online.

For more information about library service contracts, check out this blog post: Public Libraries, Partnerships, and How NCW Libraries Works.

To demonstrate our continued commitment to transparency, we have posted the contents of the letter below.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

To the Mayor and Members of the Omak City Council,

NCW Libraries is deeply disappointed and concerned by the recently released email from Mayor Gagne, obtained through public record requests by Omak Common Ground. In the email exchange between the Mayor, City Administrator Todd McDaniel, and city legal counsel, Mayor Gagne raises questions about the value of the Omak Public Library and NCW Libraries’ good faith intentions related to the proposed $1.5 million investment in the interior of the Omak Public Library, a city owned building.

We recognize that emails not intended as public statements can be taken out of context or misinterpreted once released. We hope that is the case. In April 2025, Mayor Gagne signed a proclamation affirming the importance of public library services to the Omak Community. That proclamation reflected a shared understanding of the library’s role as a vital public resource. And the mayor repeatedly stated her hope that the library service contract would be renewed and that planned renovations would proceed at both the January 5th and February 2nd City Council meetings.

For decades, NCW Libraries and the City of Omak have worked in partnership to provide reliable, equitable public library services to the Omak community. Over the past several months, we have continued to approach this partnership in good faith, seeking open communication, transparency, and a mutually workable agreement.

Members of our leadership team have consistently made themselves available to share information, answer questions, attend meetings, and clarify facts. We are still available, and we continue to believe that the best way we can move forward is by working together to ensure that everyone has access to a robust, modern public library.

Over the past month, we have witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of public support for the Omak Public Library. Residents have spoken clearly and passionately about the library’s value as a place for learning, connection, opportunity, and belonging. That support matters, and prolonged uncertainty places both library services and public trust at risk.

We ask that the Mayor and City Council clarify their current position on the Omak Public Library, the library service contract with NCW Libraries, and the current renovation project. We are hopeful that emails sent in December no longer reflect the Mayor and council’s current position.

We remain hopeful that the Omak City Council will act in the best interest of the community by approving a library services contract that protects continued library services and reflects the expressed will of Omak residents. NCW Libraries stands ready to move forward in partnership and transparency.

Sincerely,

Barbara Walters, Executive Director, NCW Libraries