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Library Building Projects - Miller Branch
Frequently Asked Questions How large will the new building be? The new Miller Branch will be a 63,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the educational needs of Howard County residents. The new branch will be nearly triple the size of the existing building. What will the new building look like? View photos of the building. What will be included in the new branch? The new branch will be a destination for residents and visitors. Ample space is allocated for books, materials and computers in the Children's, Teen and Adult collection areas. Quiet study rooms on both floors will allow customers to focus on their work without distraction. The new branch includes a computer lab, group study rooms, a children's classroom, and a bank of meeting rooms which can be configured to host groups up to 300. Information and Customer Service desks have been located so as to optimize sightlines and deliver exceptional customer service. The building will be a teaching tool in its own right with changing exhibits and characteristics reminiscent of historic Ellicott City. The Children's area will feature wall murals and whimsical sculptures to engage the youngest learners. An outside terrace on the second floor will allow customers to read and work outdoors while enjoying the view across the vegetated roof to the meandering stream and pasture beyond. Designed to capture the benefits of natural lighting, to maximize energy efficiency, and to achieve LEED Silver Certification, the Miller Branch will serve as a model for County buildings for years to come. Will there be more parking? The new branch will add 250 spaces to the entire campus, for a total of 470 (inclusive of current spaces). Tell me about the Enchanted Garden. Created as a teaching garden on the quarter-acre parcel next to the new branch, the Enchanted Garden will be used to teach children and adults how to grow edible and indigenous plants. History will be woven into the vision (e.g., the history of Black-Eyed Susans) which will further celebrate the new branch as a "Historical Center." The garden will supplement our systemwide focus on environmental education, and will fit in well with the new building’s LEED Silver Certification. An advisory committee comprised of representatives from the Master Gardeners, University of Maryland Extension Service, Clark's Elioak Farm, school system, community college, Department of Recreation and Parks, and Economic Development Authority guides the effort. More details. When will the new branch open? December 17, 2011. Details. What is going to happen with the old building? Once the new branch is open, the existing branch will be reconfigured into administrative office space. When that project is complete, administrative staff -- currently split between the Central and East Columbia branches -- will move. This will create opportunities for new public space in both branches, as well as increasing much needed customer parking at those locations. How can I help?
December 2011  Miller Branch Project |
Locations
Central Branch
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© 2013 Howard County Library. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Howard County Library. All rights reserved.