Open: Woodland Community Library

Photo of library building, book return slot on left, door in center, large window on right

A bigger, better home for Woodland Community Library

Ground broke on the new Woodland Community Library at 411 Lakeshore Drive on June 17, 2023, with construction beginning October 2023. The new 7,560-square-foot library features a community meeting space, separate areas for teens, children, and adults, two study rooms, a staff workroom, and an outdoor courtyard. The new library opened on October 12, 2024, providing the community with a welcoming and accessible library that is a flexible and inspiring environment for learning and collaboration, enriches connections to the community, becomes a central destination for generations to come, and anchors future development in Woodland.

Better than Imagined

A few people converse and read on low, sofas near the library's entrance with the Friends' Book Store in the background

A few people make themselves comfortable on the large sofa where they can read and converse with one another in lots of natural light.

Wide open space featuring low sofas and lots of natural light near the library's entrance

The Woodland Community Library offers large, comfortable spaces for sitting, reading, studying, working, and more.

Two women with children looking up in the Children's room at the artwork hanging from the ceiling

Some children with their adults enjoy the Children's Area hanging sculpture above and exploring the shelves below.

Children's area of the library with colorful chairs, low book shelves, and colorful artwork dangling from the ceiling

The Children's area is furnished with colorful, kid-friendly chairs, stools, play areas, and a unique hanging sculpture called Phonic Bloom that hangs from the ceiling.

Colorful, dangling artwork made of printed pages called Phonic Bloom

The Phonic Bloom hanging sculpture in the Children's Area represents commonalities in the vocal sounds of the Salish, Spanish, and English languages, and is made of recycled books.

A few people make use of the public computers with the glass walls of the courtyard behind them

A few people made use of the public computers on a sunny day in Autumn.

Tables with computers waiting to be used, in front of bookshelves and the doorway in to the Teen Room

The public computers are plentiful and provide space to spread out in their new home outside the Teen Room.

Large, open space with table and chairs, viewing screen on wall, and 3-D Printer on cart

The new Community Room stands ready for use both as a gallery with artwork on the walls, a meeting space, a program room, and more.

Woman with toddler in arms and preschooler walking along as they leave the library

Early visitors enjoyed the open space at they made their way past the reading area and Community Room to the main entrance.

A large group of laughing people surround the now cut ribbon at Woodland Community Library's front entrance

October 12, 2024 - Library staff, local dignitaries, supporters, and tribal elders can't hold in their joy upon cutting the ribbon to open the new Woodland Community Library.

A wide view of the whole front of the new building with landscaping and parking.

September 2024 - The new library is ready for occupancy! All that's left is for us to move our technology, collection, furnishings, and people in.

Read spelled out in individual letters mounted in the sidewalk before the new building

September 2024 - Part of the exterior decoration of the new library is this ground-mounted sign to invite reading--and allow folks to lock up their bicycles.

Close up of the metal book return slot in the exterior wall of the Woodland library

September 2024 - The exterior wall features a return slot, so you may drop items off whether the library is open or closed, keeping them secure from weather.

View of the LIBRARY sign on the front wall of the Woodland library

September 2024 - With mere weeks until the library opens, the front of the building spells out its purpose in all capital letters, and the landscape planting is complete.

Quick facts 

  • Project Cost: $10,174,723
  • Construction Cost: $7,886,504
  • Funding committed: 
    • FVRLibraries, $6,253,929
    • Friends of Woodland Community Library, $752,419
    • FVRL Foundation for the benefit of Woodland Library, $209,275
    • WA State Department of Commerce Grant, $2,449,550
    • WA State Department of Commerce Allocation, $499,550
    • Altrusa International, $10,000 
  • Square footage: 7,560 square feet
  • Design: Hacker Architects, Portland, OR 
  • General Contractor: Bremik Construction 
  • Pursuing LEED Silver Certification 
  • Awarded Vancouver Business Journal Top Project 2024 awards
    • Community Catalyst Award
    • Top Project - public sector category

Features of the new building

Lobby
  • Entry space with comfortable seating, accessible power, and laptop tables
  • Donor board recognizing the contributions of the community and donors in making the dream of a bigger, better Woodland Community Library a reality
  • The Friends Bookstore offers gently used books and other materials to the community at great prices. Proceeds benefit Friends of Woodland Community Library.
  • Library information and resource display monitor
Main space
  • The central Circulation and Service area includes self-checkouts, a copy center, and helpful staff.
  • Adult area with plenty of comfortable seats and tables with charging stations for reading, studying, and working
Tech/Study
  • Two small meeting rooms for groups up to four
  • Technology area with four desktop computers for patron use and laptop space with convenient power outlets
  • Printing, copying, and faxing services are available.
  • A 3D printer is available for use once patrons are certified by staff.
Community Room
  • The Community Room, with a projector and audio/visual system, can accommodate 48 people at tables, 60 chairs in presentation setup, or 147 standing.
  • Art display system in the room provides an opportunity to feature local artists.
Teen Room
  • A dedicated Teen Room, with comfortable seating, device charging, and internet computers
  • Gaming with our Nintendo Switch or other multi-player gaming on a big screen.
Children's area
  • The Early Literacy area offers little ones a special space with enrichment panels, interactive learning activity toys, and child-size furnishings.
  • Children’s internet computer and self-checkout station
  • Study and project tables with power access
  • Phonic Bloom Hanging Sculpture, where colorful flower represent the commonalities in the vocal sounds of the Salish, Spanish, and English languages in this piece made of recycled books.
Pie graph showing allocation of funding sources for the new Woodland Community Library building.
Fig. 1 – Project cost: $10,174,723. Construction cost: $7,886,504. Contributions by source and dollar amount: FVRLibraries: $6,253,929; WA State Department of Commerce Library Grant: $2,449,550; WA State Dept. of Commerce Allocation: $499,550; Friends of Woodland Community Library: $752,419; FVRL Foundation for the benefit of Woodland Library: $209,275; Altrusa International: $10,000.

Join or support the Friends of Woodland Community Library and help with fundraisers and library promotion