Work to bring some of Anne Arundel County?s oldest libraries up to code might have to wait because of a cut in a state grant.
“We wish we would have gotten the whole [grant], but we?ll have to do with the money we have,” library system spokeswoman Laurie Hayes said.
The Maryland County Library Capital grant was supposed to be $92,000 and would help seven branches get new fire alarm systems, which would bring them up to modern fire codes, and new information and checkout desks, which would bring them in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
But recent state budget cuts due to a looming deficit reduced the grant by 10 percent. While the fire system upgrades will go on as planned, the cut may have an affect on the ADA-compliant desks.
Hayes said the buildings have adequate fire alarms, but the improvements would link the buildings to a monitoring system that alerts the county Fire Department and places light strobes on the alarms to alert people who are hearing impaired.
“These buildings will no longer have to rely on a police officer to drive by a 3 a.m. to spot a fire smoldering,” said Lt. Frank Fennell of the county Fire Department.
The new information desks will help accommodate those in wheelchairs, shorter adults and children, “so they won?t be peering up at the librarians,” Hayes said.
The County Council will vote on allocating the money at its 7 p.m. meeting Monday in the Arundel Center in Annapolis.
AT A GLANCE
Upgrades
» Fire alarm system: Eastport, Annapolis Neck, Edgewater, Linthicum, Riveria Beach
» ADA compliance: Brooklyn Park, Linthicum and Provinces (Severn)
Source: Anne Arundel County Library System
