Due to this week’s anticipated excessive heat, Pierce County libraries and other facilities are inviting people to stop by and cool off.

With temperatures expected to exceed 95 degrees in some places, these air-conditioned buildings can be valuable respites from the heat. Citizens are also encouraged by the county’s Department of Emergency Management to take advantage of cooler air in other public buildings like movie theaters, malls and other stores with air conditioning.

In Buckley, the library, 123 S. River Ave., has been designated a “cooling center.” It will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Other cooling centers in east Pierce County are at the Bonney Lake library, Orting library and Sumner library, as well as the Bonney Lake Senior Center.

In addition, all Lowe’s and Petsmart locations allow people and their pets to come in and get out of the heat. Pets need to be on a leash or in a crate and owners must provide water if they plan on being in the store for long periods of time.