Libraries want public input on new services, facilities

Update

• Previously: Public meetings to discuss improved library facilities were scheduled for June 25 in Ridgefield, June 26 in Washougal and June 27 in Woodland.

• What’s new: Another slate of Round 1 meetings were added for each city, all on July 8.

• What’s next: Round 2 meetings will be held in August on dates to be determined.

Round 1 meetings

Ridgefield

• 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ridgefield Community Center, 210 N. Main Ave.

• 6:30 p.m. July 8 at Ridgefield Community Library, 210 N. Main Ave.

Washougal

• 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Washougal Community Center, 1661 C St.

• 6:30 p.m. July 8 at Washougal Community Center, 1661 C St.

Woodland

• 6:30 p.m. Friday at Woodland Community Center, 782 Park St.

• 6:30 p.m. July 8 at Woodland Community Center, 782 Park St.

Library patrons in Ridgefield, Washougal and Woodland can discuss their visions for new libraries at community meetings over the next few weeks.

The meetings are part of the predesign process as the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District looks to improve services and facilities in the three communities.

The sessions will be conducted by architects from FFA Architecture and Interiors of Portland.

A pair of Round 1 meetings have been scheduled in each city. Members of the public will be able to describe the services they would like to see in a new and improved library; the general layout of the building, including different types of spaces for different users; and possible locations.

There also will be discussions of local fundraising efforts, philanthropic possibilities and community partnerships.

Each community also will have a Round 2 meeting in August.

When the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District released its facilities study earlier this year, the branch libraries in Ridgefield, Washougal and Woodland were categorized as inadequate and high-priority candidates for replacement or expansion.

Regional library officials took Troy Ainsworth, principal at FFA, and his design team on a May 23 tour of the three cities. The FFA team includes a technology specialist, a library planner and a former small-town librarian.

“We spent a couple of hours in each community,” Ainsworth said. “We got a better sense of what they’re after, as well as the current conditions, qualities of each community and opportunities that might be there.”

The group talked with community leaders, including Washougal Mayor Sean Guard, Woodland Mayor Grover Laseke and Ridgefield City Manager Steve Stuart.

“We asked general things: what role the library plays and what they would like it to play,” Ainsworth said. “It’s very basic stuff, but it’s important to hear early in the planning.

“This was more reconnaissance. We wanted to leave the detail work — particularly possible sites — to the public meetings.”

All three libraries are less than 2,400 square feet and are in buildings owned by other agencies. The Woodland and Washougal libraries are in city-owned buildings; the Ridgefield library leases space in the community center.

The facilities study put price tags of about $3.75 million on each project.

Two initial public meetings, which could be described as Round 1-A and Round 1-B, are scheduled for each community. People can attend one or both of their local meetings.

The Round 1-A June meetings at Ridgefield, Washougal and Woodland will include the entire FFA team. On July 8, the architects will split up so all three Round 1-B meetings can take place at the same time.

The architectural team and library administrators will meet later in July, then schedule Round 2 public meetings in each community in early or mid August.