Deschutes Public Library announced today that the new Central Library in Bend (61956 SE Santorini Street) will open to the public on Monday, May 11, 2026. This comes just less than two years after the official groundbreaking ceremony on the site on May 21, 2024.
“We are excited to share the new Central Library with the people of Deschutes County,” said Deschutes Public Library Director Todd Dunkelberg. “Bend’s last library was built more than 20 years ago, so it’s
essential that our library system keeps pace with our county’s growth. The Central Library—along with the new Redmond Library and remodeled neighborhood libraries—allows us to increase our services,
resources and public meeting spaces. Plus, centralizing operations gives us the ability to move items to our other libraries throughout the county more quickly and efficiently than ever before.”
Dunkelberg says now that construction work is finished, staff will spend the next few weeks putting the finishing touches in place while also being trained on how the brand-new building operates. The Central
Library is by far the largest in the Deschutes Public Library District at nearly 100,000 square feet.
“We’ve remodeled three libraries so far and built a new Redmond Library. We’ve learned that providing time to train staff and allowing them to get familiar with the new space is key to having a successful
opening,” Dunkelberg said. “For the next six weeks or so we’ll focus on making sure everyone understands all the systems and processes that make this new, three-story building function.”
Even before the Central Library opens on May 11, the Central Library drive-thru will open for holds pick- ups and book returns. Drive-thru service will start on March 23, 2026, with holds pick-up available
Monday through Saturday, noon to 6:00 p.m. Books, DVDs and magazines can be returned at the book drop, located just after the drive-thru window, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When placing a hold
to be picked up at the Central Library, customers will need to select “Central DRIVE-THRU” as their pick-up location (note, “Central DRIVE-THRU” will be available to select starting March 23).
Some of the new library’s features include multiple meeting and study rooms—including a large, divisible community room on the first floor—as well as a children’s discovery space that encourages interactive play and learning amidst the books on the second floor. The third floor houses the adult collection, as well as a co-working area with plenty of space for collaboration and a MakerSpace that provides opportunities for hands-on creativity. Customers will find ample seating areas throughout the building, public computers and print stations, and—a first for a library in Deschutes County—a Thump
Coffee café in the lobby.
Sustainability is a defining feature of the new Central Library. “It was designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification standards,” says Dunkelberg. “It’s an all-electric building engineered to operate as an energy-independent facility. We’ve also incorporated energy-efficient systems that will significantly reduce the building’s environmental footprint while helping ensure reliable library service for the community well into the future.”
Building on a collection of public art at libraries across the County, the Central Library will feature original art from a variety of artists working in a range of mediums. John Grade’s wooden sculpture “Juniper” floats over the main staircase, with more art to come from artists such as Jason Graham, Sara Siestreem, Jeremy Okai Davis, Sarah More, and others.
In November 2020, Deschutes County voters supported a bond measure to expand and improve libraries across the county, including construction of the Central Library. The La Pine, Sisters and Sunriver Libraries were remodeled and a new Redmond Library was built. The final project, remodeling the Downtown Bend Library, is now underway. The Downtown Bend Library temporarily closes to the public on April 11 but will reopen when renovation work is complete in spring 2027.
Central Library Quick Facts:
Address: 61956 SE Santorini Street, Bend
Opening: May 11, 2026
Drive-thru opening: March 23, 2026 (hours Mon.–Sat., noon–6:00 p.m. for holds pick-up, 24/7 for
book, DVD and magazine returns at the book drop)
Size: 100,000 square feet, three levels
Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership
Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Construction
Owner Representative: Redpoint Construction Management
Floorplan sketches and more information: dpl.pub/futurecentral
All-electric, energy-independent building built to achieve LEED Platinum certification
