Hoquiam’s most visited place is its historic Carnegie public library. The pride of the community is undergoing a renovation that will potentially provide another 50 years of use. Seventy-five percent of the funding for the renovation has been secured. In order to finish the project, the City of Hoquiam is seeking a $250,000 line item Capital Budget Request sponsored by Rep. Mike Chapman and Sen. Kevin Van De Wege.

The project began this fall when a new roof was added and asbestos mediated, together with a litany of other repairs. Final renovation would require masonry repairs, replacing damaged plaster, new windows and doors, and ADA adaptions.

The library, built in 1911 by a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, remains a symbol of Hoquiam’s history. Its importance is demonstrated by a constant stream of visitors. In 2015, 534 outside groups used the library as a meeting space. There were more than 74,000 library material checkouts and 12,000 computer log-ins.

You can support the future of this vital resource by emailing or sending a letter to your 24th Legislative District legislators — Van De Wege, Chapman and Rep. Steve Tharinger — expressing what the library means to you.

John Larson

Past President, Hoquiam Library Board

Arnold Martin

Treasurer, Hoquiam Library Friends

Waylon Robert

City of Hoquiam Intern