Hoodland Library Celebrates 10 Years

Let’s take a minute and give a rousing round of applause to the Hoodland Library, currently celebrating its tenth anniversary at their Welches location!

In the digital age, a segment of society believes that local libraries have outlived their usefulness. That couldn’t be further from the truth, especially for the people who live and work in the Mt. Hood area. Over the past decade at its Welches location (and in the decades prior), the Hoodland Library has proven an indispensable and beloved fixture in the Mt. Hood community.

If you haven’t swung by the Hoodland Library’s cozy location on Welches Road (right across the street from the Thriftway), then you’re missing out. The lovely little library is home to a mighty collection of books and movies. Its position as part of the larger Clackamas County library system means that any book in the system can be ordered and retrieved from the Hoodland location in just a few days. 

What’s more, its role as a satellite of the Sandy Library means it gains access to speakers, programs, and events that may otherwise see our corner of the Pacific Northwest overlooked. In short, the team that powers the Hoodland Library has created an institution with muscle that belies the small size of the community it serves.

The goals of the Hoodland and Sandy Libraries go beyond the books and DVDs they lend. Their mission statement, “[to] support the community in their endeavors to create lifelong readers, learn to read and write, develop the ability to find accurate information, and connect to the online world,” is echoed day in and day out.

For example, library clerk Molly Espenel regularly opens the library to read stories to Hoodland tots. It’s a lively event that’s a favorite of any child lucky enough to attend. For her part, Espenel is proud to play a role connecting her community and invoking a love of literature, arts, and crafts in the hearts of Mt. Hood’s youth.

Espenel has been involved with the Hoodland Library since its inception. “It started with a bookmobile [sponsored by Clackamas County] in the 1940s. I used to take my kids to the bookmobile when it stopped in the store parking lot so many years ago.”

The Hoodland Library was originally housed in the (now-demolished) Dorman Center. Three locations later, it has continued to grow and thrive.

“We now have computers, a meeting room, a Friends of the Library area, and more,” enthuses Espenel. “We loan books, graphic novels, DVDs, magazines, audiobooks, music, and selections from our Library of Things.”

The Library of Things is a particularly useful (and fun) addition to the library’s services. Ever wanted to make your own pasta? Explore the Mt. Hood National Forest? The Hoodland Library can accommodate! As Espenel explains, “You can check out items like a pasta maker, an Instant Pot, a Mt. Hood Forest Map, and so much more!”

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Hoodland Library continues to thrive as part of the Mt. Hood community. If you don’t have one, there’s never a bad time to get your library card. Just swing by the 24525 E Welches Road location and get ready to embark on a journey that will leave you feeling connected, informed, and entertained!