Anastasia Link visits Tumwater Timberland Library every Friday, and the new artwork on the walls made an immediate impression.
“I come here every Friday and noticed the artwork right away. It touched my heart. Her work captures exactly what it's like to be out on the water. Her work is just incredible,” Link said.
The 15 pieces of artwork, created by local artist Julie Kluh, bring scenes inspired by the Pacific Northwest into the library, reflecting the landscapes and natural beauty that mean so much to the community. The collection was purchased by the Friends of the Tumwater Timberland Library, whose fundraising and volunteer efforts continue to make a lasting difference in the library and the experiences of the people who visit it.
Having her artwork displayed in a public space close to home is especially meaningful to local artist Julie Kluh.
“To be a local artist and have my work shown in the library is an honor,” Kluh said. “It really brings my work into the community, which I think is really special. My goal as an artist is to create work that brings peace and that is calming and joy and inspiration from our local beauty,” she said. “So to have it here is like perfect. It's just the best venue for it.”
A community investment that will last
After 24 years as a Friend of the Tumwater Timberland Library, Karen Backman was excited by the opportunity to support a local artist and help make the library feel even more connected to its community.
“We wanted to work with a local artist, and we loved that she was in the neighborhood,” Backman said. “And then we saw her work and thought, 'YES!'”
The purchase represents more than a new addition to the library's walls. It reflects the Friends' commitment to creating a welcoming space that feels connected to the people who use it.
Backman estimates that the Friends sold approximately 10,000 books to help fund the artwork, a testament to the volunteer work and community support behind the project.
“It was a project that we happily took on,” said Susan Phillips, another Friend of the library. “Everybody who comes in enjoys that gift from the Friends to the library.”
And it didn't take long for visitors to notice.
“When the art was first here, a patron commented, ‘The art is new... is it permanent?’” Backman recalled. The patron didn't want to lose it.
The artwork is there to stay.
The artwork has also become a topic of conversation among library visitors. Phillips said people have been talking about the new pieces and the difference they make in the space.
“It's very much a gathering place for the community,” Phillips said.
Together, these reactions speak to the impact a thoughtful addition can have. What began as an effort to bring local art into the library has become something visitors can connect with and look forward to seeing each time they walk through the doors.
Celebrating the Friends who make it possible
From fundraising and book sales to volunteer service and community advocacy, Friends of the Library groups play an important role in supporting libraries and the people they serve.
During Friends of Libraries Week, October 18–24, Timberland Regional Library is celebrating the Friends groups throughout its five-county district and recognizing the time, effort and commitment they bring to their communities.
The TRL Board of Trustees recently signed a proclamation recognizing Friends of Libraries Week, affirming the importance of these partnerships and the contributions Friends make to library spaces, programs and services.
The artwork at Tumwater Timberland Library is one example of what that support can accomplish: a collaboration among volunteers, a local artist and a library that brings the community's own sense of place into a shared space.
For Kluh, the opportunity to share her work with her neighbors is an honor. For visitors like Link, the paintings are a reminder of the beauty just beyond the library's doors. And for the Friends who helped make it happen, the project is another way to invest in a library they have supported for decades.
It's a lasting reminder that libraries are shaped not only by the collections they hold, but also by the communities that help make them feel like home.
