The Carroll County Public Library system could get good news and bad news if the proposed budget for 2006-07 fiscal year is approved May 30.
The spending plan, presented by Ted Zaleski, county budget director, during a community meeting Tuesday at the North Carroll Library in Hampstead, includes $4.9 million for a new library but not the $100,000 needed to extend library hours to Sunday.
This is an example of the county shifting money from the operating budget, which covers ongoing expenses such as health care and salaries, to the capital budget, which pays for construction and renovation projects.
Although the groundbreaking date has not been set for the new library at the intersection of Old Westminster Pike and Green Mill Road in Finksburg, the 10,000-square-foot building will sit on a 10-acre site and contain 30,000 volumes. It will be the sixth branch in the Carroll County Public Library system.
The library board requested additional funds to offer more hours for residents at the Westminster and Eldersburg branches.
The current library hours at all five branches are 9:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 to 6 p.m. Friday during the school year, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in the summer, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Community demand, combined with a growing population, sparked plans for the sixth branch, said Ann Wisner, library spokeswoman.
Lukmire Partnership Inc., an architectural firm based in Washington, D.C., designed the library.
The upcoming fiscal year begins July 1.
Finksburg Library timeline
February 2005-January 2006: Design
Winter 2006: Bid process
Spring 2006: Groundbreaking
Fall 2007: Opening
Carroll County libraries and when they opened
» Westminster 1980
» Eldersburg 1983
» Taneytown 1989
» North Carroll 1990
» Mount Airy 1994
