SOURCE: Montgomery County

For Immediate Release: Friday, May 6, 2016 Montgomery County Public Libraries announced that the Wheaton Library interim site will open on May 19 at 9 a.m. The interim location for the Wheaton Library is 2400 Arcola Avenue, in the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad Grand Ballroom. The staffed interim location is scheduled to be open for 68 hours a week, including evenings and weekends (Monday – Thursday, 9-9; Friday and Saturday, 10-6; Sunday, 1-5). In May, the following services will be available at the interim site: Public computers, public Wi-Fi, and a computer with educational software for children Access to place and pick up materials on hold Material return during open hours Magazines and newspapers Summer Read and Learn program Homework Help Makerspace activities Workforce development training Early literacy/School readiness (Storytime, Grandreaders, etc.) In November, in addition to the services listed above, there will be a collection of nearly 20,000 items including children’s materials, DVDs and CD books. “The scope of services at the Wheaton interim location includes more than books, for the first time an interim site will provide computers and other programs,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “With the May opening of the temporary site, this will be the earliest we have been able to provide interim library services to a community while its library was closed for construction.” The Wheaton Library closed in mid-March to prepare the site to begin construction on the new library and community recreation center. The new facilities will be built in the same location as the old Wheaton Library. Residents learned of the location of the new interim site at the closing ceremony for the old Wheaton Library held on March 13. Staff began immediate preparations to close the old library and to open the interim site. “We believe our library users will be pleasantly surprised with their “new” interim library,” said Parker Hamilton, director of Montgomery County Public Libraries. “The library staff have worked hard to prepare this wonderful space where our Wheaton community can access quality library services and programming, while we all enthusiastically await the completion of the wonderful new 21st century, state-of-the-art library and world-class community recreation center.” The Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center is scheduled to be completed in Summer, 2018. Information and updates on progress of the construction for the new library are available at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DGS-BDC/MMC/361202.html. Updates, as they become available, can be found at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library. # # # Release ID: 16-439 Media Contact: Judy Stiles, 240-463-2442

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