Central Library Welcomes Nearly 20,000 Visitors in Opening Week

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Date Posted:  5/21/2026

The community response to the new Central Library has been nothing short of incredible. During its first full week open to the public, the new library welcomed 19,944 visitors who checked out 31,215 items. 

Opening day alone brought over 4,000 visitors through the doors, with customers checking out 7,504 items and returning another 2,263. 1,159 customers signed up for a library card during their visit the first week. Visitors spent the week exploring the library’s expansive new spaces, including a collection of more than 165,000 books, along with Thump Coffee, study rooms, the MakerSpace, and our very popular Children’s Discovery Area. 

Behind the scenes, Central Library’s volunteers have also been hard at work helping make the opening a success. In just 10 days, 106 active Central Library volunteers logged nearly 600 service hours supporting shelving, MakerSpace activities, programs, holds, and more. Volunteers have become an essential part of daily operations, helping create a welcoming and vibrant experience for visitors throughout the building.

The excitement and support from the community have been overwhelming, and library staff have worked tirelessly to make the opening a success. From helping customers find their next read to navigating library card sign-ups and answering hundreds of questions, staff helped create a welcoming and joyful first week in the new space. 

We are so grateful to everyone who stopped by to explore, check out materials, or simply admire the building. If you have not visited yet, we cannot wait to welcome you to Central Library. 

Central Library facts: 
LOCATION: 61956 SE Santorini Street, Bend 

CONSTRUCTION TIME: 24 months (May 2024–May 2026) 

SQUARE FOOTAGE: 103,343 square feet 

ARCHITECT: The Miller Hull Partnership  

LOCAL ARCHITECT REPRESENTATIVE: Steele Associates 

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company 

OWNER’S CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: Redpoint Construction Management 

CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY AREA DESIGN: Plus and Greater Than 

LEED Certification: Gold or Platinum