March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 50 F

Library to hold public sessions on Annapolis library relocation

AACPLIn order to educate county residents about the upcoming Annapolis Regional Library, Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) welcomes all to attend Community Information Sessions on September 4, 9 and 15 at 7 PM in the auditoriums of local high schools.

Architects Ed Masek and Jeremy Kline of the firm Wheeler Goodman Masek (WGM) will join Library Chief Executive Officer Skip Auld in explaining what a regional library is, how the three possible sites for the library have been selected and other factors, including parking constraints and effects on traffic.

After the presentation, audience members will be invited to ask questions and make comments. AACPL will also accept written questions and comments. All written and verbal testimony will be compiled for review by the Library’s Board of Trustees prior to its vote on a site recommendation.

The future Annapolis Regional Library is planned to be a 65,000-square-foot, multi-level structure serving residents of not only the city itself, but the entire southern tier of Anne Arundel County, from Arnold and the Broadneck Peninsula all the way to Deale and South County.

WHAT:           Community Information Sessions on Annapolis Regional Library

WHO:             AACPL CEO Skip Auld; Architects Ed Masek and Jeremy Kline

WHEN &

WHERE:       Thursday, September 4 at 7 PM – Annapolis High School

                      Tuesday, September 9 at 7 PM – Broadneck High School

                      Monday, September 15 at 7 PM – South River High School

Out of more than a dozen proposed locations, the Library, WGM and the County Department of Public Works selected the three most viable sites for study: the current location at 1410 West Street; a parcel abutting the District Court building on Rowe Boulevard; and a site at the intersection of Old Solomon’s Island Road and Somerville Road. The building will require a three-story, 325-space parking structure to accommodate increased attendance, and will have a major effect on traffic.

Based on the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works cost estimate in 2012, the County planned a $39 million project in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Due to the nature of the sites, costs are now estimated substantially higher; however, the Library and County will work to scale the project to the $39 million budgeted in the CIP.

The AACPL Board of Trustees will vote in the fall to select the site. If the Board’s selection is approved by the County Executive and Council, then land acquisition, architect selection and design of the new building will proceed with community input over the following two years. The new library is expected to be completed in 2018 or 2019.

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