The Cockeysville library, the busiest in Baltimore County's 17-branch system, will reopen Monday after a $2.2 million renovation — much to the relief of patrons who crammed into the scaled-back facility for the past nine months.
The building on Greenside Drive added 1,600 square feet and was completed three months ahead of schedule. The addition doubles the size of the children's area and an inviting niche just for teens.
"I just cringed when I thought about a year of construction at our busiest branch," said James Fish, director of the Baltimore County libraries. "I am amazed at how well and how fast this was all done."
The nearly 30-year-old brick building shrank to a mini-branch while under construction, with a 23,000-square-foot operation confined to a single, tiny room.
Even a one-room operation with minimal services didn't keep patrons away. They continued to borrow, return and reserve items and log onto eight computer stations, officials said. In nine months, the branch maintained a little less than half of its previous-year circulation of 1.2 million items.
"I still came every chance I got," said Tina Miles, who left the mini-branch with a stack of books. "This library is home for me. I am here easily once a week and will be back for the reopening."
The branch now offers more computers and more seating as well as tutoring rooms and a conference area. It opened briefly Wednesday to give patrons a preview of the renovations and the recently unpacked collection of nearly 200,000 items.
"They only added 1,600 square feet, but the redesign makes it all seem much bigger," said Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., a newcomer to the Cockeysville area who promised to make good use of the library.
Using input from neighborhood youth, the library decided to use a beach theme for its teen corner, but the décor will rotate displays of student art.
The children's area, with its wall of windows at the front of the building, is designed for young children, officials said. The room also features a large puppet stage, a computer station equipped with educational games in English and Spanish, and its own check-out desk.
Mary White of Parkton toured the child-friendly space with her grandchildren Emma Wolk, 6, and John Wolk, 4. They left with new library cards, membership in the summer program and a Spider-Man book for John.