October 31, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information:
Sue Vanlaanen, Communications and Marketing Director
(360) 906-5021 -- [email protected]
Library District Receives Final Pre-Design Report on New Libraries
Next steps include site selection and funding-mechanism development
for future Ridgefield, Washougal and Woodland libraries
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Fort Vancouver Regional Library District’s board of trustees has received a final
report on a pre-design study for future improved library facilities for Ridgefield, Washougal and Woodland.
The study was completed by consulting firm FFA Architecture and Interiors Inc. of Portland and included input
gathered from a series of public meetings and focus groups in each community.
The three communities under study were identified in an earlier report – a strategic facilities planning
study conducted by consultants BergerABAM in 2013 – as being most in need of bigger and better libraries
among the district’s 13 libraries in four counties.
For all three future libraries, FFA has recommended a single-story structure for cost effectiveness and
staffing efficiencies. The lot size guideline for each facility is roughly double the building square footage to
accommodate adequate parking and desirable exterior landscaping and features.
Next steps in the facility development process include further refinement of site options for each
community, and development of potential funding options in collaboration with local Friends of the Library
groups, Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation and community leaders.
Here is a summary of the FFA recommendations and public input for each location; estimates include
all costs for planning, designing, building and outfitting a new building, excluding the cost of the land:
Ridgefield Community Library
Current square footage: 2,055
Recommended square footage: 12,941
Meeting rooms: 80-seat community room; 10-person meeting room; two 2-4 person study rooms
Children’s area: About 1,900 square feet
Teen area: About 570 square feet
Friends of the Library area: About 100 square feet
--continued--
Community Libraries: Battle Ground, Cascade Park, Goldendale, La Center, North Bonneville, Ridgefield, Stevenson, Three Creeks, Vancouver,
Washougal, White Salmon Valley and Woodland; The Mall Library Connection: Library Express facilities at Green Mountain, Yacolt and Yale
FVRL Pre-Design Report – 2
Current collection size: 15,334 volumes
Recommended collection size: 41,817 volumes
New-construction cost estimate: $4,776,877
Public input in Ridgefield overwhelmingly endorsed keeping the library in the downtown area, and to
make the new building friendly and welcoming. Many expressed a desire for the library to maintain its
small-town feel but to have up-to-date technology.
Washougal Community Library
Current square footage: 2,400
Recommended square footage: 12,830
Meeting rooms: 80-seat community room; 10-person meeting room; two 2-4 person study rooms
Children’s area: About 1,800 square feet
Teen area: About 560 square feet
Friends of the Library area: About 100 square feet
Current collection size: 13,477 volumes
Recommended collection size: 40,360 volumes
New-construction cost estimate: $4,732,537
Washougal residents were highly in favor of keeping the library as close to the center of Washougal as
possible. They also expressed a desire to make the library welcoming and comfortable for children and
teens, and to balance the need for active spaces for youth with relaxing, quieter areas for other patrons.
Woodland Community Library
Current square footage: 2,376
Recommended square footage: 10,239
Meeting rooms: 80-seat community room; 10-person meeting room; two 2-4 person study rooms
Children’s area: About 1,000 square feet
Teen area: About 430 square feet
Spanish-language area: About 300 square feet
Friends of the Library area: About 100 square feet
Current collection size: 11,817 volumes
Recommended collection size, to include a sizeable Spanish-language collection: 27,630 volumes
New-construction cost estimate: $3,814,089
Woodland residents expressed an interest in having meeting spaces, a larger collection, better access to
computers, and distinct areas in the building for different age groups. Public input also favored keeping
the library on the west side of town, in or near the downtown core, to help with downtown revitalization.
A .pdf of the full, 251-page report is posted on the library district website, www.fvrl.org, at
http://mylibrary2.fvrl.org/about/docs/FFA-FinalReport_with_Appendix.pdf.
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