Fort Vancouver Regional Library District officials are looking for the best ways to serve almost 450,000 people across 4,200 square miles and four counties.
The district has retained Vancouver planning consultants BergerABAM to lead the facilities planning study.
“We’re regrouping for the future after an extensive period of growth,” Executive Director Nancy Tessman said.
“The recent reopening of The Mall Library Connection at Westfield Vancouver (mall) marks our fifth new or remodeled facility project in four years — after the new Battle Ground, Cascade Park and Vancouver libraries, and district headquarters — not to mention the smaller rural service points we added in 2012 at Yacolt, Yale and Green Mountain.”
There is strong interest in larger libraries in Washougal, Woodland and other communities, and some areas are underserved.
Public input will be gathered in April and May. Preliminary results will be presented in late August. A final report is expected to be delivered in September.
