The new Woodland Community Library is taking shape and is slated to open this fall.
“It’s going to be a beautiful setting whether you want to sit outside or inside,” FVRLibraries Executive Director Jennifer Giltrop said in a phone interview. “(It’s) a place to study, to read, to enjoy neighbors (and) also a place to learn new skills.”
The library posted a weekend update to its Facebook page on the construction. The first painting phase is finished inside, parts of the concrete floor are polished and work on the wood-slat ceiling has started. On the outside, the siding is almost complete, the driveway is paved, and the sidewalks and courtyard concrete is poured.
FVRLibraries broke ground in June 2023 on the 7,560-square-foot library at 411 Lakeshore Drive, near downtown Woodland.
The project costs $8.6 million. Funding came from FVRLibraries, Friends of Woodland Community Library, FVRL Foundation and Friends, Washington State Department of Commerce and Altrusa International.
The current library resides in a 2,300-square-foot home that is 100 years old.
“It’s not serving the needs of a 21st century library,” Giltrop said. “(The new library) will have many more features, like a community meeting space, separate areas for teens, children and adults, two study rooms, an outdoor courtyard.”
Other features will include accessible power and laptop tables with comfortable seating. The Friends Bookstore will offer gently used books and other materials for sale. The main space will have self-checkouts and a copy center. Patrons can use four desktop computers in the technology area. The community room will have local art and a projector and audio and visual system.
Once completed, FVRLibraries will host a grand opening event.
“Everyone from donors to community leaders and the public will be invited to cut the ribbon, and there will be lots of activities for children and families to participate (in),” Giltrop said.
The Woodland Community Library isn’t the only project FVRLibraries is focusing on.
Fundraising for a new $11 million, 13,000-square-foot library in Washougal is underway to replace the current 2,300-square-foot space in the city of Washougal’s administrative complex.
“We are about $6 million short of our target,” Giltrop said.
FVRLibraries plans to enhance Washougal’s library services with the expansion.
The project’s next steps include developing a full budget for the project and working out a fundraising plan with the FVRL Foundation and the Friends of Washougal Community Library.
Editor’s note: A dog park and splash pad planned near the Washougal library are being developed by the city, not as part of the library project. An earlier version contained incorrect information.
