Main Library Construction FAQs

• What is happening at Main?

  • The Main Library in downtown Tacoma is being upgraded to improve safety, accessibility, and efficiency, creating an overall better visitor experience.
  • Upgrades will be made primarily to the modern addition (that is, the building attached to the Carnegie building, last remodeled in 1990); the Olympic and other meeting rooms, as well as the Handforth Gallery in the original 1903 Carnegie Library will also be refreshed.

• How long will Main Library be under construction?

  The Main Library closed for construction on September 1, 2023, and will fully reopen in 2025.

• Why is Main under construction?

  • The “modern addition” has not been improved in more than 30 years and is not equipped for today’s needs.
  • The goal of this project is to make the library a more efficient, safe, and welcoming environment. With 95,000 square feet, there is so much potential for this facility to serve the community in myriad ways. One example is transforming the second floor of the library into operational and programming space for nonprofit partners such as the Tacoma Tool Library.

• Why is TPL updating Main Library right now?

  • In 2020, the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Library were hit with a budget shortfall due to the pandemic
  • Usage at the Main library had been in decline over that past two decades. Most people report that lack of parking, unwelcoming/uninspiring spaces, and safety concerns caused them to discontinue visiting Main
  • While libraries were closed and our library director navigated budget challenges, the constraints of operations spurred creative and imaginative problem solving in how to better utilize the space, resources, and number of staff of Main Library to benefit the entire library system
  • The remodel will center library services and collections on the first floor while welcoming an "incubator model" on the second floor, converting it to spaces for nonprofit community organizations to have spaces to offer programs at below-market rate rent

• How is this project being funded?

  A combination of City of Tacoma, state, and federal sources are funding this project.

• What’s the closest library branch to Main?

  The Mottet Library in the McKinley neighborhood and the Wheelock Library in the Proctor neighborhood are less than three miles from downtown Tacoma. View a map of all libraries to plan your visit.

• What other amenities are part of the renovation?

  • Improved safety and accessibility
  • A refreshed circulating collection
  • New paint, carpet, shelves, lighting, and furniture
  • A Makerspace with an updated Digital Media Lab space, Memory Lab, and 3D printers
  • Dedicated teen and children’s areas
  • A living room-style lobby for reading and coworking
  • Local nonprofit tenants offering programming on the second floor
  • Expanded public meeting rooms
  • Updates to the Handforth Gallery
  • Study rooms for small groups and collaborative learning

• Who are the nonprofit partners on the second floor? Do they pay rent to the library?

  • Tacoma Tool Library is currently occupying and operating out of space on the second floor
  • Write253 will move in after construction is complete
  • More nonprofit partners will be announced as they sign on
  • TPL is following an incubator model wherein partners pay a monthly fee that is considerably less than market rate
  • In return, partners provide workshops and programs inside the library that enliven and inspire the community while bringing new vibrancy to the space

• What can I expect when Main Library reopens?

  • A newly painted exterior with new sidewalks and landscaping
  • Vastly improved, inviting spaces throughout the modern addition and first floor of the Carnegie Wing
  • On the first floor of the modern addition, access library collections, services, a new computer lab and larger digital media lab, a new children’s area (with adjacent family restrooms) and a new teen area, plus new spaces to enjoy reading, relaxing, and convening
  • As before, there will be browsable collections for adults, teens/young adults, and children
  • The Digital Media Lab will be expanded and improved with new soundproofing and equipment and become part of the larger grouping of Maker Labs
  • On the bottom floor of the original Carnegie library, improvements will be made to the Handforth Gallery, Olympic Room, and newly named Cascades Room
  • The second floor of the modern addition will be more open and inviting, with new meeting rooms and public restrooms
  • The second floor will host local nonprofit partners providing community programs and services
  • The large elevator will also receive a necessary safety upgrade and refreshed interior
  • The Northwest Room, operating from the second floor of the Carnegie Wing, will remain unchanged

• Will the Digital Media Lab be affected by construction?

  The Digital Media Lab will be closed during construction. When Main Library fully reopens, the Digital Media Lab will be in a new space located within a grouping of Maker Labs on the first floor.