Media Advisory: Groundbreaking Marks Milestone For New Washougal Community Library (Photo) - 10/07/26

WHAT:
Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation, donors, and community partners will celebrate the start of new Washougal Community Library construction. The event will include brief remarks from project leaders, followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking and photo opportunity.

WHO:
Remarks will be provided by:

• Jennifer Giltrop, Executive Director, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District

• Laura Klinger, Principal, Hacker Architects 

• Jennifer Wilkerson, Executive Director, Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation

WHEN:
2 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15

WHERE:
Future site of the new Washougal Community Library, 222 Durgan St., Washougal 

VISUALS:
Speakers, project partners, and community members will participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking. Photos from the event will be available to the media upon request following the event. Architectural design renderings of the new space are attached. 

BACKGROUND:
The new, 14,000-square-foot Washougal Community Library will replace the community’s current approximately 2,300-square-foot library, which has served Washougal since 1981. The new library will provide dedicated spaces for children, teens, and adults; a large community room; meeting and study rooms; expanded collections and technology access; and an outdoor courtyard.

The new library will be built on a 17,250-square-foot downtown property donated to FVRLibraries in 2021 at 222 Durgan St., near Washougal City Hall and other planned civic improvements downtown. Construction is expected to begin shortly after the Oct. 15 groundbreaking, with the new library scheduled to open in 2028.

The $19.4 million project is supported through a combination of FVRLibraries funding, a Washington State Department of Commerce grant, and private philanthropy.

Learn more at www.fvrl.org/NewWashougalLibrary.