MATTAWA — North Central Washington Libraries officials will be expanding the hours at the Mattawa Public Library.  

The library is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. four days a week, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's open Wednesday morning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Amanda Brack, communications manager for NCW Libraries, said the Mattawa branch is without a permanent librarian. 

“We have had library assistants filling that role,” she said.  

The lack of a full-time librarian led to a reduction in hours, she said, but the Mattawa branch remained open.  

Valerie Ramirez Garcia, the library’s customer service technician, told Mattawa City Council members that the goal is to add four to six hours per week to the library schedule, although some of the details are to be determined. 

“We’re pretty sure that we’re going to be extending Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 6 p.m.,” she said. “We’ll be open until (6 p.m.) three days out of the week so that our members are able to come during the afternoon. We do close a little bit early, and I know that stops some people that want to use it in the afternoon.” 

Ramirez Garcia said library officials are working on adding additional services at the library, including books and programs.  

“We are currently working on expanding our Spanish collection,” she said, as well as the English Spanish bilingual collection. 

Ramirez Garcia showed an example of one of the bilingual books for children. 

“It talks about the experience that children have (when they) interpret for their parents,” she said. 

She also has plans to promote the library and what it offers to the community, she said, both children and adults. 

“In the next few months, I’ll be working with teachers at Mattawa elementary schools to provide a tour for the little kids, let them know what’s at the library, what they can use, and I’ll be having an enrichment activity for them,” she said. “I’m also going to be working with the 21st Century program this summer for summer school kids. Monday through Thursday, (each) of those days is going to be designated for summer for a certain number of kids to come in. I’ll be teaching them about books, and we’ll be reading a book together.” 

Activities are planned throughout the summer for toddlers and preschool children. 

“I plan on doing some story times with kids and the parents,” Ramirez Garcia said. “I’ll be reading a story for all the kids who want to come.” 

The Mattawa branch also provides free online access and related services, she said, as well as mail order through its website. 

“If there’s a book we don’t have in our collection here, you can just hop on the website with your library card, and you find whatever book,” she said. 

Online resources give people who have a library card access to a range of other services. 

“If community members don’t have, for example, a way to watch movies, they can log on and go on the (NCW Libraries) website, and they’re all free,” Ramirez Garcia said.  

The library offers online access to test preparation materials for young people and adults, as well as help with writing resumes. Another program offers tutoring for students of all ages.  

A different online option offers classes and training in specific subjects. 

“You can pick a course, and you will get a certification, (which) you can add to your resume. And get a little more knowledge on a certain topic,” she said. 

The NCW Libraries website also offers language courses free of charge to patrons with a library card, along with streaming music services and digital and audiobooks. Printing and scanning services are available, as well as access to computers. There are time limits on computer use because the number of computers is limited, Ramirez Garcia said.  

    A card game in progress at the Mattawa Public Library.