West Slope Community Library Gets a Stunning Makeover

West Slope Community Library welcomed patrons into a newly remodeled space would make HGTV fans' jaws drop. Doors flung open on June 16 after being closed for seven months. The previous space was designed in a pre-digital era and had become dated. With 142,375 visits in fiscal year 2018-2019 – and a per-square-foot checkout volume that's one of the highest among WCCLS libraries – this was a well-deserved renovation that could not have been accomplished without the help of the Washington County Facilities department.

“We're happy to give our neighbors the improved facilities they deserve,” says Kristen Thorp, library director at West Slope Community Library. “Like all West Slope's past staff and patrons, we wanted to leave the library in a better place than we found it.”

The new West Slope Community Library is lighter, brighter and more inviting. Supporting patrons of all abilities was top-of-mind when designing a new service desk, reimagining the entrance and acquiring new self-check machines. A more thoughtful layout boasts a dedicated space for computers, making patron access and technology classes more convenient. Other improvements include modern furniture, new carpet (goodbye, stains!), freshly painted walls that serve as wayfinders and a family restroom in the children’s area. And coming soon are self-automated holds lockers.

The West Slope Community Library, located in the Raleigh Hills neighborhood, is the only library directly operated by Washington County, an agreement that was formalized with the levy funding voters approved in 1978, shortly after WCCLS was founded.

The library was founded by the Century Club for Women in 1950; it once occupied the basement of a bank and survived a fire in 2002. Learn more about the library’s storied history – and see the stunning before and after photos.

We hope you’ll stop by and visit soon! Remember to check the library’s website for the latest hours.