(May 19, 2016) Plans for the Berlin Library are proceeding, with the Worcester County Library Foundation estimating site plan work is about 95 percent finished.
That’s according to foundation board member Ron Casio, who showed the latest schematics to the Berlin Planning Commission last week.
Developed by architect Jeff Schoellkopf, the two-story 11,400- square-foot building on Harrington Street adjacent to the Waystead Inn looks to improve on nearly every aspect of the current library on Main Street.
The eight-page architectural site plan shown to the commission included a much larger multipurpose space that can accommodate up to 100 people and provide space for plays, musical performances or meetings. In addition, the design features several outdoor enclaves that were meant to maximize the building’s geographic location in relationship to the sun.
As for fundraising efforts, Casio admitted the foundation has hit a few snags.
When a portion of the $1.9 million in funding promised by the county proved difficult to procure, the Humphreys Foundation jumped in with a $150,000 matching grant, with the town of Berlin putting up $75,000.
“That gave us $225,000 that paid for designs,” Casio said. “The county bought the property, they paid some bills, but really we’ve gotten this far with private funds, which enabled us to begin. So, we really feel like we’re ahead of the game.”
Additional funding towards the construction could come from state grants. Casio said the foundation already had about $1 million in grants for fiscal year 2016 and were eligible for nearly the same amount during the next cycle.
“We suspect that we’re only going to have the county pay for approximately half of the building,” he said, although exactly what that cost would be remains uncertain.
“We’re hoping to, in the next couple months, know what the building is going to cost,” Casio said. “The county commissioners asked us what it was going to cost a year ago and I stood up there and said, ‘I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t have the plans.’
“There was a ballpark,” he added. “We were like 10,000 square feet and four-to-five [million]. But I never like to tell anyone how much it’s going to cost until I have a set of plans. Now, we’re going to know soon.”
In part, those estimates were delayed because the planners have been taking their time in developing the concept of the library. In doing so, however, Casio said the foundation hopes this latest branch of the Worcester County Library will pay dividends over time by using smarter design techniques.
“What we’ve learned in overseeing the five libraries [in the county] is that the last two are costing the taxpayer a lot of money to own and operate,” Casio said. “There’s two costs to buildings: there’s a cost to buy, and a cost to own and operate. The county has been procuring buildings as if they’re only going to own them for 15-20 years. That’s crazy. If they take care of [the new library], it could be there for 200 years.
“This whole process is in order to procure – for the county and the taxpayer – a building that they can afford to own and operate in a much better way than we have been, and it has a lot to do with process. We’re looking at the whole building as a system – how it reacts and inter-reacts with the other parts to reduce the overhead and the maintenance costs over time. That’s the goal.”
The foundation will hold two events to raise additional funds for the new library. On June 2, from 5-8 p.m., the “Ladies and Libations” beer and wine tasting at the West-O Bottle Shop will offer samples and light snacks. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and are available by calling Jan Adamchak at 410-641-0950. Only 60 tickets will be sold.
On Sept. 16, the foundation will have a lawn party and silent auction at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin. Tickets at $35 will be available at the Berlin and Ocean Pines branches by June 15.
The library is also raising funds through an ongoing “brick” campaign, which allows for the purchase of engraved brick pavers that will be placed along the walkway to the new library.
Businesses or individuals who donate to the library can reserve designed areas, such as the local history collection or the children’s reading section, which would be named in their honor.
Donations can be made to the Worcester Library Foundation, 307 North Washington Street, Snow Hill, Md. 21863.
For more information call 410-632-2600 or visit www.worcesterlibrary.org.
That’s according to foundation board member Ron Casio, who showed the latest schematics to the Berlin Planning Commission last week.
Developed by architect Jeff Schoellkopf, the two-story 11,400- square-foot building on Harrington Street adjacent to the Waystead Inn looks to improve on nearly every aspect of the current library on Main Street.
The eight-page architectural site plan shown to the commission included a much larger multipurpose space that can accommodate up to 100 people and provide space for plays, musical performances or meetings. In addition, the design features several outdoor enclaves that were meant to maximize the building’s geographic location in relationship to the sun.
As for fundraising efforts, Casio admitted the foundation has hit a few snags.
When a portion of the $1.9 million in funding promised by the county proved difficult to procure, the Humphreys Foundation jumped in with a $150,000 matching grant, with the town of Berlin putting up $75,000.
“That gave us $225,000 that paid for designs,” Casio said. “The county bought the property, they paid some bills, but really we’ve gotten this far with private funds, which enabled us to begin. So, we really feel like we’re ahead of the game.”
Additional funding towards the construction could come from state grants. Casio said the foundation already had about $1 million in grants for fiscal year 2016 and were eligible for nearly the same amount during the next cycle.
“We suspect that we’re only going to have the county pay for approximately half of the building,” he said, although exactly what that cost would be remains uncertain.
“We’re hoping to, in the next couple months, know what the building is going to cost,” Casio said. “The county commissioners asked us what it was going to cost a year ago and I stood up there and said, ‘I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t have the plans.’
“There was a ballpark,” he added. “We were like 10,000 square feet and four-to-five [million]. But I never like to tell anyone how much it’s going to cost until I have a set of plans. Now, we’re going to know soon.”
In part, those estimates were delayed because the planners have been taking their time in developing the concept of the library. In doing so, however, Casio said the foundation hopes this latest branch of the Worcester County Library will pay dividends over time by using smarter design techniques.
“What we’ve learned in overseeing the five libraries [in the county] is that the last two are costing the taxpayer a lot of money to own and operate,” Casio said. “There’s two costs to buildings: there’s a cost to buy, and a cost to own and operate. The county has been procuring buildings as if they’re only going to own them for 15-20 years. That’s crazy. If they take care of [the new library], it could be there for 200 years.
“This whole process is in order to procure – for the county and the taxpayer – a building that they can afford to own and operate in a much better way than we have been, and it has a lot to do with process. We’re looking at the whole building as a system – how it reacts and inter-reacts with the other parts to reduce the overhead and the maintenance costs over time. That’s the goal.”
The foundation will hold two events to raise additional funds for the new library. On June 2, from 5-8 p.m., the “Ladies and Libations” beer and wine tasting at the West-O Bottle Shop will offer samples and light snacks. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and are available by calling Jan Adamchak at 410-641-0950. Only 60 tickets will be sold.
On Sept. 16, the foundation will have a lawn party and silent auction at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin. Tickets at $35 will be available at the Berlin and Ocean Pines branches by June 15.
The library is also raising funds through an ongoing “brick” campaign, which allows for the purchase of engraved brick pavers that will be placed along the walkway to the new library.
Businesses or individuals who donate to the library can reserve designed areas, such as the local history collection or the children’s reading section, which would be named in their honor.
Donations can be made to the Worcester Library Foundation, 307 North Washington Street, Snow Hill, Md. 21863.
For more information call 410-632-2600 or visit www.worcesterlibrary.org.