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 make themselves comfortable on the large sofa where they can read and converse with one another in lots of natural light.
The Woodland Community Library offers large, comfortable spaces for sitting, reading, studying, working, and more.
Some children with their adults enjoy the Children's Area hanging sculpture above and exploring the shelves below.
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.
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 made use of the public computers on a sunny day in Autumn.
The public computers are plentiful and provide space to spread out in their new home outside the Teen Room.
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.
Early visitors enjoyed the open space at they made their way past the reading area and Community Room to the main 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
- Awarded American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon (ACEC) Small Projects Award
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 flowers represent the commonalities in the vocal sounds of the Salish, Spanish, and English languages in this piece made of recycled books.
Join or support the Friends of Woodland Community Library and help with fundraisers and library promotion
