A New Library for Washougal. Almost Home.
After more than 40 years in a space built for a fraction of today’s community, Washougal is on the verge of a library built for its future. Thanks to an extraordinary outpouring of support, we are 98% of the way there, and just $400,000 from the finish line.
$19 Million Raised.
$400,000 to Go.
Every dollar raised so far has brought Washougal closer to a library worthy of its community. Now we’re asking neighbors, families, and friends to help us close the final gap and cross the finish line together.
Why This Library Matters
For more than four decades, Washougal’s nearly 18,000 residents have been served out of a cramped 2,300-square-foot space inside the city’s administrative building. It’s simply not enough room for the community that depends on it: for story time, homework help, job searches, or a quiet place to read.
The new Washougal Community Library will change that story entirely. At more than 14,000 square feet, it will offer six times today’s space. It will also anchor a vibrant downtown civic campus alongside a community center, splash park, dog park, and public parking, creating a true gathering place in the heart of the city. It will draw residents and visitors downtown and support the local businesses that make Washougal home.
This project grew out of years of community-driven planning, and it reflects what Washougal residents asked for: a library that is welcoming and inspiring, with dedicated spaces for children, teens, and adults, and room to connect and discover.
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What the New Library Will Offer
- Space to Grow Into. Six times the space of today’s library, with room for collections, programs, and people.
- A Dedicated Kids’ Space. A bright, welcoming children’s area built for story time, discovery, and family visits.
- Meeting & Study Rooms. Flexible rooms for community groups, tutoring, and quiet, focused study.
- Technology & Learning. Updated technology access and resources to support students and job seekers alike.
- Part of a Civic Campus. Steps from a new community center, splash park, and dog park in downtown Washougal.
- Built to Last. A purpose-built home for the library, designed for generations of Washougal families.
Momentum That Got Us Here
The new library has been years in the making, and it has been carried forward by partners who believe in Washougal.
In 2020, the donation of a downtown property next to City Hall gave the project a permanent home and laid the groundwork for a broader civic gathering space. Since then, major gifts have moved the vision toward reality, including $6 million leadership gift from The Endeavour Fund with the Foundation’s largest gift ever received, and another transformational $1 million gift from a local foundation that loves libraries and the Washougal community
“This donation sends a clear signal to our entire community: the new Washougal Community Library is on its way. This gift is a catalyst for the last phase of funding needed, and we are energized to get this project across the finish line.”
— Jenny Wilkerson, Executive Director, FVRL Foundation
Through it all, the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation has led the fundraising effort in partnership with the Friends of the Washougal Library and FVRLibraries, making more possible for Washougal.
Close the Gap: The Final $400,000
We’re almost home. Just $400,000 stands between Washougal and a fully funded library.
This final stretch is where the whole community comes in. Major gifts built the foundation; now every gift, of any size, brings us one step closer to opening day. Whether you give $25 or $25,000, you’ll be part of the group of neighbors who carried this library across the finish line.
Fundraising continues through opening day, and the sooner we close the gap, the sooner Washougal can celebrate a library that’s fully and truly its own.
Project timeline
- Community Vision: Site secured (2020) and community-driven planning
- Major Gifts Secured: The Endeavour Fund, a $1 million local foundation gift, and more
- Design Finalized: Spring 2026
- Groundbreaking: October 2026
- Construction: Fall 2026 through 2027
- Grand Opening: Early 2028
Final Push: fundraising continues through opening day.
Thank You
Thank you for helping build a library Washougal families will enjoy for generations. Questions? Contact Jenny Wilkerson, Executive Director, at jwilkerson@fvrlfoundation.org or 360-906-4705.
A partnership of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation, the Friends of the Washougal Library, and Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries.