Photo Updates
FVRL is working to build a new home for Woodland Community Library that will provide more materials, resources, ADA accessibility, internet and computer access, and additional space for meetings, study, programs and workshops.
Project fact sheet—updated 9/2017 (PDF)
Progress and next steps:
News
- October 2020: Hacker Architects submitted the final renderings for the conceptual design. (See the site plan and conceptual drawings in the slideshow!) The FVRL Foundation and Friends of Woodland Library are actively fundraising.
- February 2020: Hacker Architects presented conceptual designs and siting alternatives for the building on February 8 at the Love Your Library event and at the public meeting on February 11.
- We are compiling data from the public survey to help the architect to produce a community-driven conceptual design.
What’s next?
- Continuing to raise funds in order to begin the architectural construction drawings and begin the site work
How you can help:
- Attend or participate in community meetings: Get information and share your vision for a new library. Check the events calendar for opportunities.
- Attend fundraisers: Check the events calendar for opportunities.
- Volunteer your time and effort: Join or support the Friends of Woodland Community Library and help with fundraisers and library promotion.
- Donate funds: Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation gratefully accepts gifts of any size towards the building project.
Background:
2019:
- October 2019: We selected an architect, Hacker, to do the conceptual design for the new library.
- June 2019: The FVRL Board of Trustees has moved $450,000 from its reserve plan into the Woodland building project fund.
- The Honorable Frank and Arlene Price Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation toward the construction of a Woodland library.
- The 2019-2021 Washington State budget includes a $515,000 grant for Woodland Community Library.
- After being used as a training site for fire and police personnel, the former Woodland Funeral Home building was demolished in February.
- A traffic study was completed to determine needed adjustments at the new library site.
2018:
- The Woodland Funeral Home moved to its new location in Park Plaza at 660 Goerig, opening the way for the library site to begin development.
- FVRL hosted an asset sale to sell fixtures, doors, windows and other salvageable items from the building.
2017:
- We have land! On May 19, FVRL closed on property at the corner of Goerig Street and Lakeshore Drive near downtown Woodland (see map). Press release (PDF)
- Fees lowered! Many Woodland residents (those in Cowlitz County outside the city limits) live outside of FVRL district boundaries and must pay a fee to get a library card. In May, FVRL changed the formula used to charge non-resident fees, allowing individuals to purchase a library card at lower cost. The library is also offering free 3-item library cards for minors so that all children and students, in district or not, have access to library resources.
2015, 2016:
- FVRL Trustees set aside $1 million for the building project.
- FVRL worked with community stakeholders to find suitable property.
- At the same time, the Friends of Woodland Community Library began fundraising.
October 2014: A Pre-Design Study by FFA Architects (PDF), with input from the communities involved, recommended library square footage and features and included projected possible costs.
December 2013: A facilities study by BergerABAM (PDF) identified the need for new library facilities in Woodland, Ridgefield and Washougal.
In the news:
- Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation receives grant (The Columbian, 12/7/2019)
- Woodland Community Library is ready to grow (The Columbian, 7/26/2019)
- Raise money for new Woodland library by eating at Burgerville Saturday (The Reflector, 7/17/2019)
- Foundation announces local grants (The Columbian, 7/2/2019)
- Woodland-area library district plan up for vote (The Columbian, 6/10/2019)
- Woodland Friends raise $31,000 for new library building fund (The Columbian, 4/13/2019)
- Friends host bocce ball tournament for Woodland Library (The Columbian, September 5, 2018)
- Land purchased for new Woodland library (The Reflector, May 30, 2017)
- $1 million land deal clears path for new library in Woodland (Vancouver Business Journal, May 24, 2017)
- District closes deal on new Woodland library (The Columbian, May 23, 2017)
- Regional library board agrees to buy site for new Woodland branch (The Columbian, May 16, 2017)
- 3 small cities strive to book new libraries (The Columbian, November 26, 2015)
- Ridgefield, Woodland libraries get design priority (The Reflector, May 28, 2014)
- Study reveals Ridgefield, Woodland need new libraries (The Reflector, April 30, 2014)