East Bend Library Closing November 15, 2025
Posted By: Tina Walker Davis
Date Posted: 7/14/2025
The last day of service at the East Bend Library is Saturday, November 15. Following are answers to some frequently asked questions about the closure. If you have questions that aren't answered here, please contact us.
Why is the East Bend Library closing?
The East Bend Library is the only building in our library system that isn’t owned by Deschutes Public Library, and its lease ends in December 2025. After discussing several options and factoring in the upcoming addition of the new 100,000-square-foot Central Library at Stevens Ranch less than two miles away, the Library Board decided not to renew the lease agreement for the East Bend Library.
The city of Bend will still have two libraries to serve their needs: the Central Library at Stevens Ranch (61956 SE Santorini St.) when it opens in the spring of 2026, and the Downtown Bend Library (601 NW Wall St.), which will close for a remodel in the spring of 2026 but will reopen in early 2027. This will create roughly 140,000-square-feet of library space in Bend, a significant increase from the existing 48,000-square-feet.
Find a timeline of library transitions in Bend on our website.
What will happen to holds left on the pick-up shelves at the East Bend Library?
Holds left on the shelves at the East Bend Library will be transferred to the Downtown Bend Library; those will be moved on November 1. We encourage East Bend customers to change their hold pick-up location from the East Bend Library to the library of their choice before November 1.
What should I do if I have books or other materials to return after the East Bend Library closes?
You can drop off your items at the Downtown Bend Library (601 NW Wall Street, Bend) or at any other Deschutes Public Library location. When the Downtown Bend Library closes for its remodel, items can be returned to and picked up from the Central Library at Stevens Ranch or any other Deschutes Public Library location.
Why are there fewer books on the shelves at the East Bend Library?
The movement of books and materials out of the East Bend Library started in August 2025 and will continue through the November 15 closure, which means there will be fewer books to browse as the weeks progress. While there may be fewer books on the shelves, you’ll still find “hot” and new titles to explore, and you can still place a hold on any items in the library’s collection and have them delivered to the East Bend Library through November 1.
What library should I use when the East Bend Library closes?
You are free to use any library in the Deschutes Public Library system (find locations here). The library’s online resources are open and available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What will happen to library programming and events that have been taking place in the East Bend Library?
Library programming and events will continue to happen in Bend. We are working with local organizations to hold events and programs in a variety of locations around Bend while we transition into the Central Library at Stevens Ranch and the Downtown Bend Library is remodeled.
Will there be a goodbye party for the East Bend Library?
Yes! The public is invited to join us on Saturday, November 8, from noon to 2:00 p.m. as we celebrate the staff and community surrounding the East Bend Library. Please stay tuned for more information regarding this community gathering.
I use public transportation. Is there a bus stop at the Downtown Bend Library?
Yes. Cascades East Transit’s Route 2 stops in front of the Downtown Bend Library. In addition, there will be a bus stop near the Central Library at Stevens Ranch when it opens.
What’s happening to the staff who work at the East Bend Library?
Staff working at the East Bend Library when it closes will transfer to another library in the Deschutes Public Library system, including the Downtown Bend Library. When the Downtown Bend Library closes for its remodel, some of these staff members may also work at the Central Library at Stevens Ranch when it opens in 2026, and some may return to the Downtown Bend Library when it re-opens following its remodel. No one is being laid off.
What’s happening to the books and other materials at the East Bend Library?
Materials at the East Bend Library will be absorbed into the larger Deschutes Public Library collection, with many items going to the Downtown Bend Library and the new Central Library at Stevens Ranch. Deschutes Public Library utilizes a “floating” collection model, which means that most items in the library’s collection can be transferred to other libraries in the system. For example, if a customer who lives in La Pine wants to check out a book that is on the shelves in Sisters, they can place a hold request on that book, and it will be sent to the La Pine Library for the customer to pick up.