East Bend Public Library will close its doors in 2025
By Katie Livermore | The Bulletin
Published July 3, 2024
My first “Scoop”
Before beginning my internship, my goal was to integrate into the community. No parachute reporting here!
So, I put on my zero-social-anxiety cap and walked around Bend asking people: “What do you want to see The Bulletin cover?”
It led me to dozens of stories. One, however, was a scoop nobody knew about. The East Bend Public Library was my final stop of the day, and when asked “What’s the news today?” the employees looked at each other and said, “Well, we’re closing. For good.”
The director of the Central Oregon library systems seemed thrilled when I called. It was as if I’d won the news scavenger hunt and he was waiting for someone to cross the finish line.
After 15 years of serving the east side of Bend, the East Bend Public Library is checking out next year, taking its books and staff to the new and nearby Central Library.
In June, the Deschutes Public Library system board decided against renewing East Bend library’s lease, which ends Dec. 31, 2025.
The new Central Library at Stevens Ranch — under construction less than 2 miles away at 27th Street and Wilderness Way — will open shortly after that, in April 2026.
The East Bend Public Library opened as a temporary location in 2011, but with Central Library opening, there will no longer be a need for East Bend library’s resources, said Todd Dunkelberg, director of the Deschutes Public Library system.
The Central Library is also expected to take more pressure off the Downtown Bend Public Library, said Dunkelberg.
The library board asked for a month-to-month lease for the East Bend library to cover the east side’s library needs up until Central Library opens, Dunkelberg said. But only two-year or five-year lease options were available.
The owner of the building asked for 18 months notice for lease renewal, Dunkelberg said, which is why the board made its decision early.
Though there will be a four-month gap where the Downtown Bend Public Library will take on the majority of services. Dunkelberg believes the library system is well-equipped with resources. It already participates in outreach programs, like temporary kiosk locations and a traveling book van.
As for jobs, Dunkelberg said the East Bend library staff will move to the Central Library location. The Central Library at Stevens Ranch, funded by a $195 million bond approved in November 2020, will be three stories set on 8.5 acres, complete with study rooms, a teen lounge, outdoor areas and more.
Right now, construction teams are pouring concrete for the Central Library location.