New libraries greet region’s readers

It’s an exciting time for Fort Vancouver Regional Library users in Clark County.

• Battle Ground 1207 S.E. Eighth Way, Battle Ground (360) 687-2322

• Cascade Park 600 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver (360) 256-7782

• La Center 1402 E. Lockwood Creek Road, La Center (360) 619-1800

• Ridgefield 210 N. Main Ave., Ridgefield (360) 887-8281

• Stevenson 120 N.W. Vancouver Ave., Stevenson (509) 427-5471

• Three Creeks 800-C N.E. Tenney Road, Vancouver (360) 571-9696

• Vancouver Community Library (main library) 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver (360) 695-1566

• Vancouver Mall 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 285, Vancouver (360) 892-8256

• Washougal 1661 C St., Washougal (360) 835-5393

• Woodland 770 Park St., Woodland (360) 225-2115

• Goldendale 131 W. Burgen St., Goldendale (509) 773-4487

• North Bonneville 214 CBD Mall, (in City Hall) North Bonneville (509) 427-4439

• White Salmon Valley 77 N.E. Wauna Ave., White Salmon (509) 493-1132

Two roomy new buildings opened in Battle Ground and east Vancouver last year, and a flagship Vancouver Community Library is fast rising in the city’s downtown.

The Battle Ground and Cascade Park branch libraries are, respectively, three times and 10 times larger than their predecessors.

Battle Ground’s new facility anchors the Battle Ground Village mixed-use development off Southeast Grace Avenue, the result of a quarter-century of private fundraising work. It has children’s and teen areas, a large reading room with comfy chairs facing a towering fireplace and a separate community room for group use.

The Cascade Park branch opened in December next to the Firstenburg Community Center in east Vancouver, at Northeast Ninth Street and 136th Avenue. The airy facility has special reading, study and activity areas, plus an automated materials handling system to speed up restocking of items — just like that previously installed at the Three Creeks Community Library in Salmon Creek.

The crown jewel of the 13-branch, four-county library system will soon capture the attention, however.

With estimated completion in spring 2011, the new Vancouver Community Library will offer automated systems in an attractive, five-level building on the west side of Interstate 5, not far from its current home.

It’s part of a mixed-use development, now dubbed Library Square, planned for 4 acres at the southeast corner of East Evergreen Boulevard and C Street.

Fittingly, the library is the first component to emerge, built by Howard S. Wright Constructors. It will have four stories of public space, an outdoor roof terrace, quiet alcoves for private reading, space for computer use and large community meeting rooms. Other amenities include separate areas for children and teens, free wireless technology, coffee-shop type lounge areas and sales displays, additional books and movies on portable devices.

Initially, patrons will use a surface parking lot. Should a better economy return, Library Square plans call for an underground parking garage available for library users.

In fact, the economy could drive many decisions affecting library users, not all of them positive. In early 2009, budget-tightening forced managers to reduce operating hours and operating days at several FVRL branches — including dropping Sundays at the main library.

Some staff layoffs ensued, but schedules were juggled so that patrons could still visit an area branch on a day when the closest one might be closed. FVRL also ended free delivery of books by mail for patrons without special needs or who live far removed from library branches. Plans to add automated material systems at additional branches have been placed on hold.

By late 2009, officials adopted a hold-tight budget without additional cutbacks, but are keeping close watch on the balance sheet. They also agreed to reinstitute books-by-mail this March, for a flat $4 per-item fee.

The library system just installed three self-checkout stations at the existing Vancouver Community Library, and planned to add new stations at the Ridgefield, La Center and Woodland branches early this year.

On the Web: http://www.fvrl.org/