Book a visit to a new (and improved!) library
by Jeffrey Smith
2008 is already shaping up to be an exciting time to think about your local public library, at least in northeastern Baltimore County. So far this year, the Baltimore County Public Library has opened one wonderful new facility—Storyville at the Rosedale Library—and has started the construction of another, a brand new library for Perry Hall. Both of these projects are certain to become treasured resources for members of our community, of all ages.
First, we travel to Rosedale. Storyville is a hands-on learning opportunity for young children recently opened at the Rosedale Library. This 2,240 square foot facility includes a child-sized townscape, interactive play materials that promote school-readiness skills, age-appropriate literacy materials, and take-home materials and resources to support continued learning. This unique amenity offers children and caregivers in the greater Baltimore area the chance to explore reading through interactive exhibits featured in a creative, museum-like setting.
Storyville was funded with over $700,000 in donations collected by the Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library. Appropriately, the first corporate supporter was Rosedale Federal Savings and Loan, who generously provided $25,000 for the project. Other sizeable donations were received from Bank of America, Bradford Bank, M&T Bank, and Verizon, to name a few. Additionally, a $250,000 allocation was included to support Storyville as part of the State of Maryland’s consolidated capital budget for fiscal year 2007. Numerous individual contributors also helped turn Storyville into reality.
Since Storyville’s opening, the Foundation has been truly amazed by the groundswell of interest and enthusiasm that the project has generated. For instance, since its informal opening on January 30th, Storyville has hosted over 7,500 visitors. Children and families from across Baltimore County, the city, surrounding counties, and even from as far away as Pennsylvania have embraced this venue for interactive learning!
Already, Storyville has earned a “storied” reputation within the community. One family bragged that their young daughter took her very first steps in Storyville’s Baby Garden exhibit. The generations of area children who will make memories at Storyville should make us all proud to know that our county is on the forefront in offering innovative library services to all.
Next, we move north to Perry Hall. Long host to its own branch library, located on Bel Air Road, Perry Hall soon will be home to the newest library in Baltimore County. This month, ground was broken for a new Perry Hall Library. The new branch, which will be located at Forge Road and Honeygo Boulevard, will have 25,000 square feet of space. It will be the most technologically advanced and environmentally-friendly library in the county.
GROUNDBREAKING NEWS-Buddy Butts speaks at the groundbreaking for the new Perry Hall library.
The new Perry Hall Library will have space for over 125,000 items, a significant increase from the current 60,000 item collection. Also, there will be public seating for 152 people, much roomier than the 17 seats presently available. Other new amenities include a teen area, a quiet study room, two group study rooms, and an enormous 3,200 square foot children’s section.
Enthusiasm within the community for the new library has been building for some time. Indeed, leaders from within Perry Hall have come up with a wonderful way in which to support the construction of the library. In conjunction with the groundbreaking, the Perry Hall Improvement Association made a $1,000 donation to support the library project. It is a challenge grant, which means that the PHIA is challenging other groups, businesses, and residents in Perry Hall to contribute toward an ultimate goal of $10,000. These funds will be utilized to purchase additional amenities that might not otherwise be able to be supported by budgeted resources for the new library.
Architect’s rendering of the new Perry Hall Library
Gaudreau, Inc.; courtesy Baltimore County Public Library
Libraries occupy a special place for every community that is lucky enough to host one. They serve as educational resources, to be sure. But they also serve a social hubs for people from all across various neighborhoods. Book clubs, guest speaker presentations, storytelling for children, and a host of other activities and events draw folks to the library. If you stop and think for a moment, you can probably think back with nostalgia to your own very first library trip.
Ultimately, libraries are treasured because they bring people together. In Perry Hall and Rosedale, the new additions coming to the literary landscape are sure to make for an even better quality of life for those of us living in these special communities.
Jeffrey Smith is a resident of Nottingham, Maryland.