Malden library moves to new site

MALDEN — The local branch of Whitman County Library Rural Library District has moved to a temporary location for the winter.

After providing pop-up library service outside under a tent for the past month, the library reopened Dec. 2 in a new portable building in the City Park recently installed by the Avista Foundation. Winter hours are 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Pine Creek Community Long-Term Recovery Group and Malden Food Bank share the building.

The library is offering books and movies for all ages, computer use, free Wi-Fi and grab-and-go activity bags for children and adults.

Only two people are allowed in the building at a time for 15 minutes of browsing or 30 minutes of computer use.

Branch Manager Vanessa Place hopes the reopening will provide a sense of normalcy to those struggling to recover from the Labor Day fire that destroyed much of the town.

The library district is working with community leaders to move into a more permanent location next year.