The Friends of the Redmond Branch Library are asking people to support a special Oct. 28-29 sale to help pay for the remodeling of the library.

But, when questioned, the library’s operators weren’t ready to say what the renovations might include.

“At this time, the management team is continuing to analyze options and compile a long-range plan that addresses facility expansion for the Deschutes Public Library,” Todd Dunkelberg, the library’s director, said in an email. “It is premature to discuss the possible renovations of the Redmond Library, or any other future library facilities, at this time.”

Dunkelberg said the library system will be in better position to share its plans in January 2017.

But the Friends group is going ahead with the sale, said Kay Larkin, president of the nonprofit organization. Though she wasn’t sure what all is planned with the renovations, Larkin said the library must prepare for the future.

“They see Redmond growing significantly in the next 20 years,” she said of Deschutes County Library. “They want to make sure the library facilities are adequate, instead of trying to play catch-up later. They’ve been really forward thinking about planning for the future.”

The possible changes to the library mean that the Friends’ book store in the library would reduce in size from 1,000 square feet to 80 square feet, Larkin said. The year-round store has traditionally raised money for the Redmond library.

To make up for the lost space, the Friends has opened a larger space, where it can store books as well as sell them, in Redmond’s Bazaar at 531 NW Elm Ave. The Friends group’s board is planning to vote this week on changes that would allow for money raised at the Bazaar and other locations outside the library to be used on literacy and arts and culture programs that aren’t library sponsored. Money raised at the library would have to go to the library system.

Popular programs outside the library include an early childhood partnership with St. Charles that provides books and other items to families of newborns, so mothers can read to them.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on that,” Larkin said.

The relationship between the Friends and the library system has improved since last year, when Deschutes Public Library threatened to sue the Friends to attempt to force it to honor a memorandum of understanding that donations would be made directly to the Deschutes Public Library Foundation. The Friends wanted money it raised to stay in Redmond, rather than be at risk of going to libraries in Bend or other parts of the county.

The situation has been resolved, and the Friends now enjoy having space outside the library, while getting to see the library renovated. Larkin said the changes will require a complete closure of the library for a period of time.

The book sale is planned during the library’s regular hours of 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 28 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 29. The Friends has the event quarterly.

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com