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Board of Public Works Approves $13M for Public Library Capital Improvement Projects​​​​
Eight Maryland library systems will receive funds for new building construction, renovations, expansions and repairs​

BALTIMORE — The Maryland State Library Agency (MSLA) is pleased to announce that the Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW) today approved $13 million to support eight public library capital improvement projects across the state. The funding was made possible by MSLA’s County Library Capital Grant Program​, which has provided more than $122 million in state funding toward projects in each of Maryland’s 24 public library systems since 2008. This year’s funding will support library construction, renovation and expansion projects in Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Kent, Montgomery, Washington and Wicomico counties.

“Public libraries are absolutely vital,” Governor Wes Moore said. “They’re not just educational support, not just places where we have treasure troves of books, but they’re ​gathering spots. They’re places where people get together. They’re places where people can get Internet access. They’re places where people's imaginations can run wild about what their long-term contribution is going to be to their communities and their state. They truly serve as community hubs.” 

“Libraries provide such a critical service to Marylanders, and they are also a crucial partner during tax season,” Comptroller Brooke Lierman said.

The County Library Capital Grant Program provides $7.5 million annually to Maryland public library systems for new library construction, renovations, expansions and other improvements. Since the program’s inception, it has helped fund 23 new public libraries and spurred nearly $400 million in local investment. This year’s program includes an additional $5.5 million in supplemental funds to address growing statewide capital improvement needs.

• “We are extremely grateful to Governor Moore, the General Assembly and the Board of Public Works for their vision, foresight and dedication to the future of Maryland libraries,” said Maryland State Librarian Morgan Lehr Miller. “Millions of Marylanders rely on their public libraries for the technology, resources, information and community connections they provide. Continued investment in these essential places ensures the success of every Marylander."
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• Information on the latest round of projects can be found below:

• ​​Cecil County Public Library will receive $1 million toward the renovation and expansion of the Elkton Branch. The project will improve energy efficiency, enhance safety for visitors and staff, modernize service delivery and layout, and address mechanical failures.
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• ​Charles County Public Library will receive $1 million toward the construction of a new 27,500-square-foot library in downtown La Plata. The new, centrally located facility will replace the existing La Plata Branch, constructed in 1966, and double its size.
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• Dorchester County Public Library will receive $102,000 to help remediate water damage and replace more than 5,500 square feet of flooring at the Central Branch in Cambridge. The project addresses urgent health, safety, and accessibility concerns, and is vital to preserving the library’s public service environment and historical collections.
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• Frederick County Public Libraries will receive $2,306,000 toward construction of a new 15,000-square-foot facility to serve the west side of the City of Frederick, where no library exists today. This area is identified as underserved by the county and the city, with bookmobile stops providing the only direct public library service.
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• Kent County Public Library will receive $299,000 to help replace the existing shingle roof on the Chestertown Branch with a mechanically-seamed metal roof system, for which the building was designed. The roof is in disrepair and the library has experienced multiple leaks in recent years, causing significant damage to the facility and disrupting operations. 
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• Montgomery County Public Libraries will receive $4,274,000 toward construction of a new 20,400-square-foot library in the historic Clarksburg district, where residents must travel on average 5-8 miles to visit a library today. The new library will serve a Clarksburg population that is projected to grow significantly in the coming years.
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• Washington County Free Library will receive $675,000 toward the design of a new 24,500-square-foot library in Williamsport, which will replace a structure constructed in 1936. At 4,280 square feet, the existing library is obsolete and doesn’t sufficiently meet the needs of the community.
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• Wicomico County Library will receive $3,353,000 to complete the renovation and transformation of the former Ward Museum of Waterfowl Art into a new, 35,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art library branch. The branch will replace the existing Paul S.Sarbanes Branch in downtown Salisbury, which has aging infrastructure, spatial inefficiencies, ADA-compliance issues, insufficient dedicated parking and a grim exterior.