Property Approved For Library In Charles

New Branch Will Be The County's Fourth

Charles County commissioners approved last week the purchase of land for a new public library near St. Charles, a planned community in southern Waldorf.

The county's fourth library, to be in a roughly 30,000-square-foot facility along Smallwood Drive near the O'Donnell Lake development, will serve the rapidly growing area, which includes the planned community developed by American Community Properties Trust.

Although the number of retail and dining options in the area have increased in recent years, county officials said they have struggled to offer community amenities such as public schools and libraries.

"For several years, the availability of library services in Charles County has not kept pace with growth," said Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D-St. Charles), who represents the area near the planned library. "This new library in the urban core of Waldorf will correct that imbalance."

The library closest to the planned facility is more than two miles away, on Village Street near the St. Charles Parkway. The county's other public libraries are in Indian Head and La Plata.

Emily Ferren, director of the Charles library system, said the facility will be a community literacy center with a slate of educational programming for children and adults. It will also have space for performing arts, meeting rooms and a TV production studio operated in cooperation with Comcast.

Design work is expected to begin by fall, with construction to begin late next year. The project is expected to cost $8 million to $10 million, which is in this fiscal year's capital projects budget.

"It's really a great site for a public library," said commissioners President Wayne Cooper (D-At Large). "It's in an area close to a mall and several restaurants, and it will be walking distance for many residents and students."