We know the Chelan Library’s closure has gone on longer than anyone hoped. We know you have questions. Our hope is to provide all the context and answer all of your questions here.
The Short Version:
What started as an interior renovation of the Chelan Library building quickly uncovered structural damage. This process has been a lot like renovating a 100-year-old house. Once our crews opened up the walls, they found hidden water damage that had rotted parts of the floor framing.
The City of Chelan owns the building and is responsible for the structural repairs. NCW Libraries operates the library and has been a close partner every step of the way. After the repair project went out to bid and the single bid came back significantly over budget, the City, NCW Libraries, and the contractor put their heads together.
The City and the contractor have identified a promising path forward to get the repairs done within the budget. Both the City and NCW Libraries are committed to doing this project the right way, ensuring the building is structurally sound. We are also committed to stewarding tax dollars responsibly. That is exactly what you deserve and should expect from your public agencies. All of that takes time and we appreciate your patience!
We are confident that it will be time well spent and will result in a library building that is ready to safely welcome and serve the community for decades to come.
The Timeline
2024 – It all started with your ideas. Nearly 200 Chelan-area residents shared what they wanted in their library through surveys, meetings, and pop up events. They value dedicated spaces for teens and kids, comfortable seating, better technology, and a calmer, more welcoming atmosphere. That feedback shaped a $591,609 renovation plan for the Chelan Library, part of NCW Libraries $10 million Reimagining Spaces Project.
October 2025 – Renovation begins. The Chelan Library temporarily closed and a pop-up library opened in the lobby. Our crews completed HVAC upgrades and fire and sprinkler improvements. New furniture, shelving, lighting, and flooring were ordered.
Late 2025 – The building reveals a secret. When shelving was removed from the walls, our team discovered hidden water damage that had rotted parts of the floor framing. It had been invisible until construction opened things up. The City of Chelan (which owns the building) and NCW Libraries made the shared decision to pause the renovation and fix the structure, rather than cover it back up.
Winter 2026 – Assessment and engineering. Engineers evaluated the full scope of the damage and designed the repair. A third-party cost estimator was brought in to establish realistic costs.
March 2026 – Funding secured. The Chelan City Council approved $150,000 for the repairs and Representative Mike Steele secured $20,000 in state funding for design and engineering.
Spring 2026 – Out to bid. As state law requires for public agencies, the City released a formal Request for Proposals so qualified contractors could bid on repair work. Bids were due in early July.
July 2026 – A curveball. The single bid received came in significantly over budget. Rather than simply paying the higher price, NCW Libraries, City staff, and the contractor came together to work through the project and identify cost-saving solutions.
Now – A path forward takes shape. The City and the contractor are working closely to finalize a repair plan that completes the work within budget, efficiently and without compromising safety. Meanwhile, NCW Libraries is searching for a temporary Chelan location to expand library services during construction. We’ll share news the moment details are final.
Your Questions Answered
Why is this taking so long
Every step has been a necessary one and many are required by law. Discover the damage, assess it, engineer the fix, secure public funding, go through a formal competitive bid process, and now work with the contractor to bring the project within budget. These are significant repairs to the structure of a nearly 100-year-old building, and they have to be done correctly so this library can serve Chelan for decades to come. Doing it right, following the law, and being careful with public dollars all take time.
Whose fault is this?
Honestly, nobody’s. Hidden damage in a century-old building is like what homeowners find when they remodel an old house. You can’t see it until the walls are open.
The City of Chelan owns the building and is leading the repairs. NCW Libraries has been working alongside them the whole way. This is what good partnership looks like.
Why wasn't The damage caught earlier?
It’s the sneaky kind. The water damage was hidden behind walls and under flooring. It wasn’t visible during planning. Issues like this are common in older buildings and are often only discovered once a space is cleared and construction begins.
what happened with the contractor bid?
The City of Chelan released a formal Request for Proposals, as state law requires, with bids due in July. Only one bid was received, and it came in significantly over the project budget. NCW Libraries facilitated a meeting with City Staff and the contractor, and the parties are now working to finalize a plan that completes the repairs within budget, without compromising safety. The conversations have been productive and we are all hopeful the repairs will begin soon.
Who is responsible for what?
The City of Chelan owns the historic Chelan Library building, so the structural repairs are the City’s project to fund and manage.
NCW Libraries operates the library, is funding the interior renovation through the Reimagining Spaces Project, and has actively supported the repair effort by helping assess the damage, providing design and cost-estimating resources, and facilitating conversations with the contractor. It’s a true partnership: clear roles, shared goal.
How is all of this being funded?
Two separate funding streams.
The half a million dollar interior renovation (furniture, shelving, lighting, flooring, design) is funded by NCW Libraries through the Reimagining Spaces Project.
The structural building repairs are funded by the City of Chelan: $150,000 approved by City Council in March plus $20,000 in state funding secured by Rep. Mike Steele.
The library was renovated before - why again?
It feels recent, but the last renovation was in 2013, more than a decade ago! This interior renovation is a direct response to what nearly 200 Chelan residents said they wanted: spaces for kids and teens, comfortable seating, better technology, and a calmer, more welcoming library.
Has anything actually happened?
Quite a bit! HVAC, fire, and sprinkler work is complete. Every piece of new furniture, shelving, lighting, and flooring has been purchased and is waiting in storage. This means once the repairs are done, the renovation itself will move fast, because we won’t be waiting on materials.
Where can i use the library right now?
Library service has never stopped!
- Pop-Up Library – In the Chelan Library lobby, find times at www.ncwlibraries.org/chelan/
- Drop In Tech Help – Chelan Senior Center, third Thursday of each month from 10-11AM.
- Storytime – Find dates and locations at ncwlibraries.libcal.com.
- Manson Library – A short drive away and fully open, find open hours and program info at www.ncwlibraries.org/manson.
- Online 24/7 – ebooks, audiobooks, streaming documentaries, movies, tv shows, music, and more, at ncwlibraries.org.
What happens to the pop-up when construction begins?
Once construction begins, the lobby pop-up will need to close for safety. An active construction zone and public services can’t share a building.*
But, we are planning ahead: NCW Libraries is looking for an alternate Chelan location where we could offer even more. A larger selection of materials, public computers, and regular programming. We’ll announce details as soon as a location is confirmed.
*For information about other occupants of the building, please reach out to the city directly.
Thank You, Chelan
This has been a long and complex process. We all miss the Chelan Library being fully open and operational. Your support and patience means everything to us. The City of Chelan and NCW Libraries are committed to getting this right: a safe, beautiful, welcoming library building that will serve this community for generations.
Questions we didn’t answer here? Reach out anytime to info@ncwlibraries.orgcreate new email or ask our staff at the pop-up. Your questions directly inform what we share on this page.
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