Library and Community Center Renovation
Vision for a 21st Century Library
“At the dawn of the 21st century, where knowledge is literally power, where it unlocks the gates of opportunity and success, we all have responsibilities…to instill in our children a love of reading so that we can give them a chance to fulfill their dreams.” – Barack Obama
A New Chapter Begins…
The new Takoma Park Maryland Library, new Computer Center, and improved Community Center facilities are happening at last. After years of conversations and planning, we have dates on the calendar that will impact Library, Computer Center, Senior Room, Multi-Media Lab, Community Center, and our patrons.
Subscribe to the City’s Insider e-newsletter for the most current information.
Ask Questions or Express Concerns:
A new email address has been created for the community to ask questions or express concerns. This will be monitored by Library staff.
Email: New library | newlibrary@takomaparkmd.gov
Important Information and Dates
The Library Temporary Location is OPEN!
The temporary library space at 7505 New Hampshire Ave is OPEN to the Public.
Library and Computer Center
Hours
- Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Friday – Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- The phone number will remain the same, 301-891-7259
The temporary location is on or near several bus routes:
Ride-On buses 15, 16, 17, 18, and 25 go to the Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center, as do Metro Buses K6, K9, J4, F8, C2, and C4.
RideOn 16 northbound stops on New Hampshire Avenue at Kingwood Drive, close to our new location, as does MetroBus K6. The closest southbound stop is New Hampshire and Merwood.
The WMATA trip planner is useful for finding the best way from your location to us.
Parking and Resumed Library Services:
- There is ample parking available, including reserved spaces for mobility-challenged patrons.
- Check our website for programs – many have continued, and we will have some new programs.
- Books-to-Go (curbside) and Books-to-You (delivery for Takoma Park residents only) have resumed. Email librarytakomapark@gmail.com to request books for curbside or delivery service.
- You can always reach the library by email, and if you have questions about the move or the new building, email us at newlibrary@takomaparkmd.gov.
Book Return Bin
The book return bin is now at 7505 New Hampshire Ave.
Library Programs
- Canta Juego continues in-person with Señora Geiza Thursdays at 10:30 at the Library’s interim location!
- Farmers Market! In this program, you can play Lotería, earn prizes, and listen to a story in Spanish! It will be great for Spanish-speaking families and those who are learning the language.
- Neighborhood Circle Time is now on Tuesdays! In-person at 10:30 am OUTDOORS in the field by Sligo Creek Parkway and Maple Avenue, next to Essex Apartments.
Visit our Library Programs page for the most up-to-date information on programs and events.
Informational Community Meeting Notes
Monday, August 22, 2022
Recorded Session (video)
Slide Presentation (pdf)
Temporary Library Location
7505 New Hampshire Avenue
Units 201-208
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Library and Computer Center
Hours
- Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Friday – Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- The phone number will remain the same: 301-891-7259
Library Renovations: Over the next several months, demolition and construction impacts are expected to affect the Community Center and the back parking lot!
Update: February 23, 2024
Recently, due to Library Renovation construction, the Martin Luther King Jr. Stone was relocated from the Community Center to Heffner Park:
- The Heffner Park Community Center results from decades of advocacy led by black community leaders like Lee Jordan to demand recreational outlets for Black children prior to the county’s public accommodation law (1963) prohibiting discrimination in public facilities.
- Read more about Heffner Park’s historical significance.
Update: January 23, 2024
- We continue to work around the winter weather
- Foundation and utility work is still ongoing
- The trees have been transported off-site for processing and storage
- We found a boulder, named it Chip, and then defeated it
Update: December 5, 2023
The next significant step for the job site is preparing the foundation. There will be digging to tie the new structure to the existing structure. By mid-January, we should have a new foundation and slab to build a library upon.
- All construction is weather permitting and subject to unscheduled changes with the contractor.
What is the plan for the trees? (already posted)
We are working with Treincarnation to appraise, process, and reuse the trees.
- To be clear and transparent, there is no way to predetermine if the trees are salvageable.
- Treincarnation cannot guarantee they will be able to use any of the wood from the removal.
- They are experts in salvaging material of this nature and skilled artisans who can create beautiful and enduring furniture.
- The hope is they will be able to salvage the wood to create furniture to enjoy for years to come in the new facilities.
For questions or concerns, please contact:
Ian Chamberlain
Public Works Deputy Director
E: IanC@takomaparkmd.gov
Update: November 17, 2023
The trees are expected to be removed in the week of November 20, 2023. We wanted to share and remind everyone of the plan.
Summary:
The Library and Community Center Redevelopment Project will result in new, sustainable facilities for all Takoma Park residents to enjoy. This ambitious LEED Gold project is situated on a site definitively bound by its surrounding structures and infrastructure.
- These spatial limitations have necessitated the difficult decision to remove trees from the site before the facilities can be expanded and renovated. These trees include a spruce and three willow oaks. One of the oaks was planted in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., further underscoring the imperative to approach this task with great care and respect.
- Guided by the City’s sustainability values, resourcefulness has been emphasized at every opportunity throughout this design and construction process. This same care and concern has been applied to every facet of the Library and Community Center Redevelopment Project, including—and most significantly— some trees that will need to be cleared from the building site.
- From the initial difficult decision to remove these trees to the question of how they can be repurposed, many experts have weighed in to bring us to where we are today. To that end, we have prepared some information about what factored into the plan.
What is the plan?
We are working with Treincarnation to appraise, process, and reuse the trees.
- To be clear and transparent, there is no way to predetermine if the trees are salvageable.
- Treincarnation cannot guarantee they will be able to use any of the wood from the removal.
- They are experts in salvaging material of this nature and skilled artisans who can create beautiful and enduring furniture.
- The hope is they will be able to salvage the wood to create furniture to enjoy for years to come in the new facilities.
For questions or concerns, please contact:
Ian Chamberlain
Public Works Deputy Director
E: IanC@takomaparkmd.go
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Update: November 16, 2023
Note that the construction (hammer) noise is expected to ramp up in the coming days.
- The contractor expects to remove the old parking access stairs late this week and early next week. It has a different connection to the rest of the Community Center structure so it may be less noticeable.
- Now that the library slab is separated from the Community Center slab, there should be less transmitted noise. As the remainder of those foundations are removed, it will likely be less perceptible.
Update: October 12, 2023
The Library construction project is now building momentum on the site.
- The contractor intends to begin controlled demolition of the building in the week of October 16th.
- You can expect more truck traffic on or around Philadelphia Avenue accessing or leaving the site.
- It is likely the greatest impacts will be from noise and dust. The contractor will use accepted sound monitoring to maintain safe levels and dust abatement.
- The contractor has already completed the hazardous material abatement.
- Additional crews will be working on the site to continue separating the existing building from the portions to be demolished.
- You may see their equipment or work in the rear parking lot.
- We also anticipate that a Washington Gas contractor will be onsite in the back parking lot of the Community Center to relocate the community center utility service—the week of October 16, 2023.
One notable change is the Trees trunk harvest work will be done after the building comes down. This was a special request to allow additional space to work for the tree crew.
- The next significant milestone will be the roof deconstruction in preparation for separating the existing framing from the building.
Please be patient -check our website for alerts and updates. Visit takomaparkmd.gov often, as we will continue to provide updates on the project.
The good news is that City Services will not be interrupted during construction or demolition. If the back parking lot is closed for a few hours or all day, you can access the Community Center through the Maple Avenue entrance, Grant Avenue entrance, or through the Police Department lobby.
Severe parking limitations continue for the Community Center parking lot.
Over the next several months, demolition and construction will affect the Community Center and the back parking lot. All scheduling is weather-dependent. Utility work and arrival of equipment and machinery may happen with very little notice from contractors, subcontractors, and vendors.
The good news is that City Services will not be interrupted during construction or demolition. If the back parking lot is closed for a few hours or all day, you can access the Community Center through the Maple Avenue entrance, Grant Avenue entrance, or through the Police Department lobby.
Recent Library Renovation and Back Parking Lot Updates
Update: September 12, 2023
A letter is being sent to School Principals, PTAs, and residents in the Community (translated) to notify all that starting on Monday, September 18, 2023, the Community Center back parking lot will have severely limited short-term parking spaces.
The short-term parking spaces in the back lot of the Community Center will be for city services such as; notary, passports, and visits to finance to make payments.
Please see the map below for the new Drop-off and Pick-up location in front of the Community Center on Maple Avene.
- On Monday, September 25 (anticipated), the construction company (Doyle) will begin equipment mobilization.
- Beginning Monday, September 18, 2023, the Community Center back parking lot parking spaces will be severely limited, with a handful of short-term parking spaces for patrons using City services.
- Spring 2025 (anticipated): The Library and Computer Center will open the new facilities and welcome everyone back to our original site at the intersection of Maple and Philadelphia Avenues.
August 19, 2023
A letter was sent to School Principals and Assistants on Friday, August 18, 2023, to notify upcoming Community Center Parking Lot changes.
During the redevelopment of the City’s Library at 101 Philadelphia Ave, the Community Center will remain open, and most of the existing City services will continue. However, parking at the Community Center will be severely limited for both staff and patrons. The City has prioritized parking at the Community Center for patrons. Below is a map identifying patron parking at the Community Center during construction. Parking restrictions are expected to take effect beginning in mid-September 2023.
There will also be several changes along Maple Ave to accommodate parking during construction.
Immediately in front of the Community Center, adjacent to the bridge and Maple Ave Community Center entrance, a new drop off & pick up zone will be restricted to 15 minutes from 7:00 am – 9:15 am and 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday.-
Four parking spots have been designated as accessible parking spaces on the side of Grant Avenue, 
Short-term parking spaces for patrons until 6:00 pm have been designated in the back parking of the Community Center.- Print a full-size version of the school map
On the adjacent southbound portion of Maple Ave, approximately three parking spaces will be reserved for City-owned administrative vehicles for the duration of construction. Parking restrictions are expected to begin in mid-January 2023.
A Preview of the New Library Design
Highlights:
- ADA accessible facilities
- New updated reservable Multi-purpose room
- 9,000+ square feet added to the Library
Anticipated Work Schedule*
April 17, 2023
Work accomplished to date:
The Library and Computer Center Redevelopment Project is underway, with most of the work occurring inside and on the existing facilities to date. The work completed includes the removal and storage of solar panels, disconnection of gas and water utilities at the construction site, and interior demolition. The mosaic has been carefully removed and stored to ensure its preservation until it can be reinstalled on the new building’s façade. Additionally, the Library and Computer Center have been relocated off-site to provide continuity of services throughout the construction process. Please visit us at 7505 New Hampshire Avenue, Suites 201-208, for Library books, programs, computers, and more.
Permits:
The groundbreaking that will precede exterior demolition has been delayed as a result of a backlog within the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, and it is not indicative of any issues or problems with the plans that have been submitted. The City is doing everything it can to move this process forward.
Once the general building permit is issued, all other permits will go into effect. This is the final piece of the permitting process, and things are expected to move much more quickly once this hurdle has been overcome.
Fencing:
Fencing will be expanded around the perimeter of the project in the coming weeks. There will be no additional impact on parking. The additional fencing will assist in achieving two objectives: procurement may be expedited with the added space to store building materials, and it will save costs since off-site storage is significantly more expensive.
A firm date for the fencing installation is yet to be determined, but it is expected that this will occur within the next month. Additional information will be provided as soon as it is available.
For more information, please visit our webpage, sign up for the City’s e-newsletter, or email newlibrary@takomaparkmd.gov.
- Fall 2024 – Construction is completed, and the new facilities are open!
- TBA Tree removal and repurposing
- Once Permit is received – Utilities and parking lot closures
- October 2022, the Library and Computer Center reopened in the temporary location at 7505 New Hampshire Avenue
- October 2022 Work begins to prepare the site of the new building
- October 2022 Removal and storage of the Library mosaic so that it can be re-installed later
- Fall 2023 Recreation Offices and Staff will move to join the Library and Computer Center Staff at the Interim Library location
- September 2022 Movers will arrive to transport Library and Computer Center materials to the temporary location
- September 2022 Removal of Solar Panels from the roof of the Library (Only two (2) parking spaces)
- August 2022 At the end of regular hours (8 pm), the Library and Computer Center will close temporarily to pack and move to the interim location
*These dates may change; please subscribe to our newsletters and follow us online to be notified of any important updates</small font>
Frequently Asked Questions – updated March 2023
Visit this page to get answers on everything you need about the project.
Q. Why was the bus stop not relocated instead of closed?
The construction site footprint will take up the entire open space in front of the current Library, including at least one major closure of the sidewalk, so moving the shelter down toward Maple Avenue wasn’t an option.
The lack of additional right of way means that we wouldn’t be able to provide any sort of seating or shelter at the current location. Also, the frequent comings and goings of heavy construction machinery and periodic sidewalk closures create safety hazards and inconsistent schedules for riders.
These things combined, in conversation with representatives from MetroBus and RideOn, made the closure the best option.
The nearest alternative stops are:
- a 1-minute walk (F4) and,
- a 2-minute walk (17) (which I recognize is less convenient if the goal is to take whichever shows up first.
- The mobile phone app Transit is a great way to track bus arrivals in real time.
Q. Why is this happening now, before construction starts?
The bus stop removal was supposed to align with the start of construction, but an unexpected delay in the permitting process has delayed the start date.
Q. Why does it have to be moved?
Can’t a safe path be provided in the location (is the construction fencing going to close the sidewalk? See the answer above.
Q. What will happen to the mural?
- The mural is an iconic symbol of the Library, and it will be carefully dismantled and preserved, then incorporated into the new building.
Ask Questions or Express Concerns:
A new email address has been created for the community to ask questions or express concerns. This will be monitored by Library staff.
Email: New library | newlibrary@takomaparkmd.gov
Please use this QR Code to see news and updates.
