Omak Library Project: Our Timeline

Work is progressing on the Omak Library’s Reimagining Spaces Project!

We expect to go out to bid for contractors in November and begin construction in early to mid 2027 with an estimated completion date of fall 2027.

This project is funded by several partners including the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Paul Lauzier Foundation, the American Library Association, local donors, and NCW Libraries.

The Department of Commerce, whose Library Capital Program grant carries schedule requirements, has reviewed and approved our updated timeline.

We all know construction schedules are bound to shift. That’s true of nearly every capital project, public or private. While we can’t make timeline guarantees, we can promise to be transparent each step of the way. Getting to this point in the project has taken longer than anticipated and we’d like share why.

Getting to Where We Are Now

Before the $1.5 million in project funding could be invested in the city-owned Omak Library building, a long-term building use and maintenance agreement needed to be in place. Design work couldn’t begin until that was settled and it took longer to resolve than our early planning assumed. Design work began in earnest in March 2026.

Design happens in three stages.

• Stage One: Confirm the project scope, layout, and major design decisions.
• Stage Two: Resolve conflicts, develop the building systems, and get a meaningful cost estimate.
• Stage Three: Finalize the documents for permitting and bidding.

We are nearing the end of stage two right now. That’s the milestone where the project’s real costs come into focus. And, like all other construction projects these days, ours came in higher than early estimates. Materials, labor, and contractor availability have all shifted in the past two years, which won’t surprise anyone who has priced out a home lately.

Over the past several weeks, we have been working with our architect and designer to value engineer the project. This is an industry term for finding ways to reduce costs. We went through the design line by line to make sure any changes preserve the elements that we know matter most to the people who use this library.

The Updated Design Plan

In October and November of 2025, our staff connected with the community and asked what this space should be, how it should feel, how it should be used, and what improvements mattered most. Those conversations drove the design and informed every decision.

The most important element is intact: a community meeting space that groups can use to gather even when the library is closed. Another top priority is maximizing the amount of space in the building used by the public.

Other pieces of the initial design have changed.

*One of the study rooms will be a dedicated teleservices room with a private enclosed space for telehealth appointments, virtual court dates, job interviews, etc.

We are also taking a closer look at materials, including HVAC and finishes to find efficiencies that don’t change how the space works for the community.

Committed to Stewardship

This project is a significant public and private investment. The $1.5 million in funding comes from the following:

• $732,000 from the Department of Commerce
• $540,000 from NCW Libraries Reimagining Spaces Project fund
• $250,000 from the Paul Lauzier Foundation
• $10,000 from the American Library Association
• Local donations

It is important to note that the project timeline shift has no impact on this funding.

What Happens Next

So many factors are at play with a construction project of this size. However, here is our targeted timeline.

Now through November 2026 – Complete the design and value engineering process.
November 2026 – Publish the request for bids for contractors.
Winter 2026-2027 – Receive and evaluate bids, award contract.
Early to mid 2027 – Begin construction.
Fall 2027 – Anticipated completion.

We will share updates along the way! Questions in the meantime? Reach us at info@ncwlibraries.orgcreate new email or by calling 509-663-1117.