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Overview

Like many communities, the people of Port Townsend, WA, petitioned the Carnegie Corporation of New York for funds to build a new public library in 1911. The City of Port Townsend agreed to assist the women of the Port Townsend Library Association (PTLA) in 04/1911 with funds to supplement those obtained from Carnegie. On-going public support was a precondition of Carnegie funding. (The city agreed to take on maintenance costs and the salaries of library employees, in order to get the original $12,500 donation from Carengie.) The PTLA, formed in 1896, had already purchased a lot for the building in 01/1903. The building, following the usual symmetrical Carnegie plan type, was under construction beginning in 1912, and had its completion on 10/14/1913. (See Pam McCollum Clise, "A Source of Pride History of the Port Townsend Carnegie Library," accessed 01/22/2015.)

Building Notes

In 2007, the Port Townsend Public Library's director was Theresa Rini Percy. (See Washington State Library, 2007 Directory of Washington Libraries, [Olympia, WA: State of Washington, Office of the Secretary of State, 2007], p. 78.)

Alteration

Roof leaks had been a problem with the library since the 1930s.

In 1990, after 77 years of service, a new 4,500-square-foot addition was appended to the original Carnegie-funded building. Electrical and HVAC systems in the old library were also replaced, and a persistent roof leak was fixed.

A thorough renovation occurred in 2014.

PCAD id: 19954