The Twinbrook Library in Rockville reopened last week with a new layout, new paint job, some new furniture and new technology—including a 3D printer, cell phone charging station and two self-checkout kiosks.
The cost of the project was about $1 million, $12 million less than the county library system’s last full renovation project at its Olney branch. The Olney project also closed the branch for more than three years.
The project at Twinbrook, what county officials are calling the first of their library “refresh” projects, closed the branch for six months.
“It is vital to ensure that our branches keep up with what our customers want,” said Carol Legarreta, public services administrator for the county’s libraries department, at a ribbon-cutting event Saturday. “This refresh project is providing a very successful model.”
The Twinbrook branch opened in 1975 in its current location at the east end of the Twinbrook Shopping Center on Veirs Mill Road.
Some of the 21 branches of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) are in older buildings, some as old as 60, and haven’t undergone significant renovations for decades.
To avoid the costs and extended closures that come with full renovations, MCPL recommended the refresh program to focus on providing better access for disabled patrons and new layouts with new technology that better fit what patrons are looking for.
The goal is to provide some building improvements to all county libraries every seven years, instead of the 20- to 30-year major renovation cycle the department had seen previously.
Top: The new combined information and circulation customer service desk at Twinbrook Library. Bottom left: New computer layout. Bottom right: The enhanced preschool children's space. Credit: Aaron Kraut
At Twinbrook, that includes a new section of teen books and seating, a bigger preschool children’s space with new shelving that’s separated from the general collection and the new technology.
The adult books section includes desks with 12 computers with access to the Internet; there are now 10 laptops for in-building use and an improved wireless Internet connection.
“The amount of technology that’s built in libraries today is extremely, extremely important,” County Executive Ike Leggett said at Saturday’s ceremony. “Many people in this county, believe it or not, do not have access to computers and this technology. These libraries help provide that.”
In October, the Kensington Park Library closed for its refresh project and is set to reopen in late winter or early spring.
The Little Falls Library, which is one of the oldest buildings in the county’s portfolio, and Davis Library in Bethesda are next in line for refresh projects. The state of Maryland will kick in about $800,000 for those projects.
