Library to Honor Peggy Olson; Announces New, Earlier Hours

Peggy Pritchard Olson loved books, and one of her favorite places was the . Now, the former Edmonds councilmember, who died Nov. 9, 2009 after battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), will be honored June 21 when the library’s home is renamed the Peggy Pritchard Olson Building.

Mayor Mike Cooper will cut the ceremonial ribbon at the event, where a new sign currently under construction will be unveiled. The dedication is scheduled for 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend, and former Mayor Gary Haakenson will say a few words in honor of Olson, who served the city from January 2004 until her death. Refreshments will be served.

“There is no finer way to honor Peggy than to name the Edmonds Library after her,” said Haakenson, who is now Deputy County Executive for Snohomish County. “The library was her passion, and she dedicated many years to it. This is a fitting tribute and a wonderful way to honor and remember her.”

In addition to her work on the Edmonds City Council, Olson was a member of the Friends of the Edmonds Library, a nonprofit group formed in 1979 that raised more than $10,000 a year to support the library. Its biggest event is the annual Friends of the Library book sale in October at the .

“Peggy was a huge supporter of books and reading,” said Edmonds Library managing librarian Lesly Kaplan. “It’s wonderful to honor her. This is a place where she put in a lot of energy and love. I’m sure she’ll be smiling in heaven to see the building live on in her name.”

The resolution to change the name of the building was passed by the City Council earlier this year. The city owns the building, and the library is the tenent. The Friends of the Edmonds Library donated funds to the city to help cover costs for the new sign, said Frances Chapin, cultural services manager.

In addition to announcing the date of the new name, the Edmonds Library has announced that it will be change its hours beginning June 5. It will be open at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday, one hour earlier. Monday through Thursday, the library will close at 8 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. The 5 p.m. closing time will remain the same on Saturdays, as will the 1 to 5 p.m. hours on Sundays.

Kaplan says the changes come after extensive study of demographics, as well as input from surveys and focus groups. Oak Harbor Library will also be changing its hours, said Kaplan, making Edmonds and Oak Harbor the only two libraries in the 21-member Sno-Isle Libraries to open at 9 a.m.

“People just wanted earlier hours,” said Kaplan. “They’re out and about already. They’re going to the Frances Anderson Center. They’re getting coffee. They’re at our doors at 10 a.m. waiting to get in.”