Touchet library project set to break ground this month

TOUCHET – The Walla Walla County Rural Library District will break ground on its new library building in Touchet on Friday, March 27 at 1 p.m.

The official name of the branch will be the Jean Marie Sansom Memorial Library. Sansom, a former library district employee who died in 2020, was a resident of Touchet and worked for the library district for over 20 years.

The 3,250 square foot facility includes creating a courtyard space adjacent to the children’s area of the library where future story times can take place. The interior of the building will feature a community meeting room as well as areas for children, teens, and adults.

The library will be located at 82 Champion St., adjacent to the Touchet School District, on land purchased in 2019. The new building will replace the 30-year-old modular building which sits on land the Walla Walla County Rural Library District leases from the school district.

Executive Director Ana Romero said this project is being funded by capital reserves funding, which has accumulated over many years. Romero said the Port of Walla Walla Board of Commissioners also approved a $200,000 grant for construction of the library, pending approval from the Walla Walla County commissioners.

“The grant is intended to be used primarily for enhancing the outdoor grounds of the library,” Romero said.

The actual construction for the new library will start April 1, with substantial completion of construction slated for October 31. Romero anticipates the library will be open to the public by the end of the year.

Artist rendering provided by WWCRLD

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Elkhorn Media Group

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