(Breaking news) New Leonardtown library options presented

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009

Supporters of the St. Mary's library system filled the county commissioners' room at the Chesapeake Building on Tuesday evening as plans were presented for the expansion or replacement of the Leonardtown library.

The library board of trustees is interested in moving into a new building perhaps next door at Miedzinski Park in front of county government's campus. Members of the recreation and parks advisory board asked the commissioners to leave the ballfields there as they are, since as many as 20,000 people use them a year, said Patrick Dugan, chair of the board.

Several locations were presented for a new library on the governmental center campus and on the nearby Hayden Farm, 172 acres across Route 245 for which county government will be paying $5.3 million.

The county commissioners need to agree on a new site for an architect to start designs, but no decision was made Tuesday. The county has $12.7 million programmed into its six-year building plans for the library project.

jbabcock@somdnews.com