(June 8, 2017) The few clouds that rolled over Berlin on Tuesday skipped by long enough for several dozen public officials and other stakeholders to stick their golden shovels into the future site of the new Berlin library on Harrison Avenue.
Six of seven Worcester County Commissioners were present, along with Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, delegates Mary Beth Carozza and Charles Otto, and county Library Director Jennifer Ranck.
Ranck thanked the commissioners and county administration for their leadership, the Worcester County Library Board for their support, the Worcester County Library Foundation and a Berlin-based fundraising committee for helping to plan fundraising events, the Humphries Foundation and Town of Berlin for their early donations, and individual donors throughout the community.
She also acknowledged the state Division of Library Development and Services, and Department of Education for their support through a capital grant program.
The new library is estimated to cost $6.25 million and will be four times larger than the previous building, which is now the oldest library in the county.
“In particular I’d like to thank former Library Director Mark Thomas, who launched this project and really set us on the right course,” she said. “I want to thank our amazing architect Jeff Schoellkopf for his vision, and to the members of the planning team for their expertise and their willingness to attend many, many, many, many, many, many, many meetings so we could be here today.”
Ranck said it was fitting the site was the former home to one of Berlin’s fabled peach nurseries.
“Now, instead of growing fruit trees, we’ll be growing readers, we’ll be producing thinkers, and we’ll be cultivating lifelong learning,” she said. “In fact, the new library building itself will be a celebration of learning – as all libraries are.”
Worcester County Commissioners President Jim Bunting noted the large number of his colleagues attending.
“You can tell we’re pretty proud of this project,” he said. “It started out as a vision and there was a lot of people involved in this … and a lot of convincing about some ideas.”
Bunting said the library would be a great thing for the town and the county.
“This is going to be a place for community, for children, for the young and old,” he said. “Thanks to everybody … there were a lot of people involved in this and it wouldn’t have happened without a lot of work.”
Williams joked that, when he was little, people didn’t get this excited about a new library.
“Now, I am very grateful that this new project is happening – not only that it’s happening in our town, but when it’s happening,” he said. “This groundbreaking, it actually is marking the beginning of a new era in the Town of Berlin.”
The town was chartered in 1868 and will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year.
Williams said partnerships were key to the development of the facility and included town, county and state government.
“It’s just amazing what can happen when people say this is good for our community and let’s roll up our sleeves and work together,” he said. “I hope that we’re leading by example down here. We might not get on the big-time news, but eventually they’ll say, ‘how [do] all those good things happen down there in Worcester County and the lower Eastern Shore?’ We still talk to each other, we still care about each other, and we work together. That’s what made this possible.”
He said the library would be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in town, would complement the historic architecture that is a signature of nearby Main Street, and would be a public asset because of the ample meeting space it will add.
“[The library] is becoming a reality before our very eyes at a time and in the place that it is meant to be,” he said. “To everyone whose made this day possible, thank you on behalf of the Town of Berlin.”
Assistant State Superintendent for Libraries Irene Padilla said a library capital grant program, now in its 10th year, helped to fund the library. Overall, she said the state contributed $1.9 million for Worcester County libraries, also including assistance to Ocean City, as part of an order signed by Gov. Larry Hogan.
“I’d just like to acknowledge that the governor sends his best as well,” she said.
The new branch is expected to open by July 2018.
Ranck said the library foundation is still trying to raise about $28,000 to fulfill the $150,000 matching grant provided by the Humphries Foundation.
“That will provide money to help outfit the building, so extra furniture and equipment, particularly in the meeting room. We want to make sure that’s outfitted properly so we can hold special events there,” she said.
The foundation hopes to raise those funds by the end of the calendar year, Ranck said.
To contribute, visit www.worcesterlibrary.org/foundation or call Ranck at 410-632-2600.
Six of seven Worcester County Commissioners were present, along with Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, delegates Mary Beth Carozza and Charles Otto, and county Library Director Jennifer Ranck.
Ranck thanked the commissioners and county administration for their leadership, the Worcester County Library Board for their support, the Worcester County Library Foundation and a Berlin-based fundraising committee for helping to plan fundraising events, the Humphries Foundation and Town of Berlin for their early donations, and individual donors throughout the community.
She also acknowledged the state Division of Library Development and Services, and Department of Education for their support through a capital grant program.
The new library is estimated to cost $6.25 million and will be four times larger than the previous building, which is now the oldest library in the county.
“In particular I’d like to thank former Library Director Mark Thomas, who launched this project and really set us on the right course,” she said. “I want to thank our amazing architect Jeff Schoellkopf for his vision, and to the members of the planning team for their expertise and their willingness to attend many, many, many, many, many, many, many meetings so we could be here today.”
Ranck said it was fitting the site was the former home to one of Berlin’s fabled peach nurseries.
“Now, instead of growing fruit trees, we’ll be growing readers, we’ll be producing thinkers, and we’ll be cultivating lifelong learning,” she said. “In fact, the new library building itself will be a celebration of learning – as all libraries are.”
Worcester County Commissioners President Jim Bunting noted the large number of his colleagues attending.
“You can tell we’re pretty proud of this project,” he said. “It started out as a vision and there was a lot of people involved in this … and a lot of convincing about some ideas.”
Bunting said the library would be a great thing for the town and the county.
“This is going to be a place for community, for children, for the young and old,” he said. “Thanks to everybody … there were a lot of people involved in this and it wouldn’t have happened without a lot of work.”
Williams joked that, when he was little, people didn’t get this excited about a new library.
“Now, I am very grateful that this new project is happening – not only that it’s happening in our town, but when it’s happening,” he said. “This groundbreaking, it actually is marking the beginning of a new era in the Town of Berlin.”
The town was chartered in 1868 and will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year.
Williams said partnerships were key to the development of the facility and included town, county and state government.
“It’s just amazing what can happen when people say this is good for our community and let’s roll up our sleeves and work together,” he said. “I hope that we’re leading by example down here. We might not get on the big-time news, but eventually they’ll say, ‘how [do] all those good things happen down there in Worcester County and the lower Eastern Shore?’ We still talk to each other, we still care about each other, and we work together. That’s what made this possible.”
He said the library would be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in town, would complement the historic architecture that is a signature of nearby Main Street, and would be a public asset because of the ample meeting space it will add.
“[The library] is becoming a reality before our very eyes at a time and in the place that it is meant to be,” he said. “To everyone whose made this day possible, thank you on behalf of the Town of Berlin.”
Assistant State Superintendent for Libraries Irene Padilla said a library capital grant program, now in its 10th year, helped to fund the library. Overall, she said the state contributed $1.9 million for Worcester County libraries, also including assistance to Ocean City, as part of an order signed by Gov. Larry Hogan.
“I’d just like to acknowledge that the governor sends his best as well,” she said.
The new branch is expected to open by July 2018.
Ranck said the library foundation is still trying to raise about $28,000 to fulfill the $150,000 matching grant provided by the Humphries Foundation.
“That will provide money to help outfit the building, so extra furniture and equipment, particularly in the meeting room. We want to make sure that’s outfitted properly so we can hold special events there,” she said.
The foundation hopes to raise those funds by the end of the calendar year, Ranck said.
To contribute, visit www.worcesterlibrary.org/foundation or call Ranck at 410-632-2600.