The Myrtle Mellen Upriver Community Library is a wealth of information and services

The Myrtle Mellen Upriver Community Library (M.M.U.C.L.) celebrated the grand opening of its beautiful new facility on September 18, 2026, bringing Fernwood a community resource that offers far more than the traditional library shelves of fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, young adult novels, and DVDs.

The new two-story facility provides plenty of room for a good read, quiet study, or a little time spent exploring. The upper floor is geared toward children and young adults and includes a designated “Stay and Play” area for the littlest library visitors.

For those needing to get connected, the library offers high-speed internet and Wi-Fi, along with four public computers. Parking lot Wi-Fi is also available daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with no password required—making internet access available even after the library has closed for the day.

The library’s services extend well beyond books and internet access. Patrons can take advantage of copying and fax services, as well as testing and proctoring services. Free notary public service is also available most Wednesdays and Thursdays.

A conference room is available for meetings, study groups, and similar gatherings and may be reserved for up to two hours. Reservations can be made by calling (208) 772-5612 or by stopping by the library in person. When the room has not been reserved and is not otherwise in use, it is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A Much Larger Library at Your Fingertips

One of the greatest benefits available to M.M.U.C.L. patrons comes through the InlandShare Library Group (ILG), a regional library consortium serving communities in Idaho and Washington. The group provides shared access to print and digital resources following the dissolution of the Cooperative Information Network (CIN) in late 2025.

Myrtle Mellen Upriver Community Library applied for and joined the InlandShare consortium within the past year, opening the door to a much larger collection of materials for local patrons.

Through InlandShare, patrons can search for books, DVDs, and other materials held by participating sister libraries throughout the consortium. Requested materials can then be placed on hold and delivered through the library’s regular weekly service to M.M.U.C.L.—giving Fernwood residents access to resources extending far beyond what can fit on the shelves of a single community library.

Patrons can search the InlandShare catalog at www.inlandshare.org.

If you haven’t yet visited the new Myrtle Mellen Upriver Community Library in Fernwood, make sure to stop by. Whether you’re looking for your next good book, internet access, a quiet place to study, resources for the kids, or materials from libraries across the region, this charming new facility has a great deal to offer the community.