The Friends of Woodland Community Library group will hold a fundraiser on Saturday, April 23 to raise funds for a new library building in the city.
Sharon Watt, the secretary of the Friends of Woodland Community Library, said the group generally raises funds to help support library programs, but their focus has shifted to something larger. The group, which is part of the Fort Vancouver Library Foundation, has worked for the past few years to secure a new building.
“Now, since we’re in the process of trying to raise money for a new library, a lot of what the Friends do is focus on that purpose,” Watt said. “In Woodland, what we have as a library is a building that’s more than 100 years old, that’s two stories with no elevator, and very steep stairs going up to the second level. It’s really inadequate for the community, so we need a new, bigger library.”
She said the group hopes to add more computers to the library, which currently only features four. They also want to increase accessibility for disabled people and add more children’s programs, like storytime events, which would be held on a weekly basis.
The fundraiser will include silent and live auctions. The silent auction will feature items like painted children’s chairs that include designs of hummingbirds and bears, some of which were painted by high school students, Watt said. There’s also paintings, gift baskets, quilts, and coupons for various services.
As for the live auction, they will sell trips to various beach condos, a fishing trip to Alaska, crab legs, and a catered dinner for eight people. Watt said those items have been donated by different businesses and community members.
For entertainment, live music will be provided by Keith Bellisle, a local musician in Woodland. Bellisle is a multi-instrumentalist proficient in guitar, drums, keyboards, bass and vocals.
At this time, Watt said the Friends of Woodland Community Library group is still in the planning stages for the new library’s design.
“We are in the process of getting the architectural concept finalized,” Watt said. “We hope to have the architects at this event to present their conceptual design for the library.”
She is unsure when actual construction of the building will begin, but the work will be undertaken by Hacker Architects from Portland.
At the Love Your Library event in 2019, the group raised $31,000, while in 2020 the event raised $30,000. Watt hopes to raise a similar amount at this year’s event.
Watt said the current library building belongs to the city. Once construction begins on the new building, she said the city will need to decide what to do with the old property.
As of now, the new building will be built on the corner of Goerig Street and Lakeshore Drive in Woodland.
Appetizers, desserts and complimentary beverages will be available at the event.
Tickets are $45. They can be purchased online at loveyour
library.eventbrite.com, by cash or check at the library, or can be mailed to the FWCL at Woodland Library, P.O. Box 894, Woodland.
The event will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on April 23 at Peterson’s Red Barn, 1605 Caples Road, Woodland.
For more information about the new library building project, go online to fvrl.org/ImagineWoodland.
