Deschutes Public Library director, library users weigh in on decision to close the East Bend Library by the end of 2025
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nearly 15 years after it opened as what officials call a "temporary solution," the East Bend Library on Dean Swift Road will close by the end of next year, as the Deschutes Public Library Board decided recently not to renew the lease that expires Dec. 31, 2025.
Matthew Draxton is speaking Monday with Library Director Todd Dunkelberg about the library closure, what it means for regular library users, what the transition will look like, and what factors went into this decision to close the East Bend Library. He'll also be asking library users their opinions about the planned closure.
His report will be on NewsChannel 21 at Five.
Here's a news release last Wednesday from the Deschutes Public Library about that decision:
Deschutes Public Library Board Votes to Transition East Bend Library Operations to Central Library at Stevens Ranch in 2026
The Deschutes Public Library Board recently reviewed lease options for the East Bend Library, which is located at 62080 Dean Swift Road in east Bend.
After discussing renewal options—which were limited to two- and five-year extensions by the leasing company—and factoring in the upcoming addition of the new 100,000-square-foot Central Library at Stevens Ranch less than two miles away, the Board decided not to renew the lease agreement for the East Bend Library. The current lease runs through December 31, 2025.
“We opened the East Bend Library in 2011 as a temporary solution to serve our growing community, and it has served us well in that capacity for nearly 15 years,” said Library Director Todd Dunkelberg. “It is the only space not owned by the library, and now that a new library is opening less than two miles away, the time is coming to transition to a permanent home.”
Dunkelberg added that current East Bend staff will transition to the new Central Library at Stevens Ranch. “We know the East Bend Library staff members are beloved by the community, so folks should be heartened to know they will still find those friendly faces in libraries,” he said.
The Bend community will still have two libraries in Bend to serve their needs—the Central Library at Stevens Ranch (61956 SE Santorini St.) and the existing Downtown Bend Library—as well as expanded outreach services and vans. The Downtown Bend Library will undergo an extensive renovation in 2026, once the Central Library at Stevens Ranch opens its doors.
