4/2/2008 New OC Library: A "Brave New World" to explore It is hard to miss the new three story building at 10003 Coastal Highway in Ocean City. While it might seem impressive from the outside, the inside may be even more amazing. This innovative, versatile facility is a the latest addition to the Worcester County Library system. It has been compared to modern libraries in big cities and that reaction is likely right on target. Patrons in a hurry can be accommodated in a short time. On the other hand, those in the mood for a leisurely read can find quiet nooks with cozy chairs on each floor and the porch. In an age when people are often short on time, a self-checkout system on the first floor eliminates the need to wait for service, although pleasant assistants are more than willing to help patrons. While the atmosphere provides enough tranquility to read or do research, the days of the stern librarian whose main function was to keep you quiet are gone. New fiction "best sellers," books on CD and books on tape are conveniently arranged close to the checkout desk. Nearby are large print books, CDs and movies. Current magazines and newspapers are shelved around the perimeter of a comfortable seating area. Toward the middle of the first floor is the computer section, containing 19 public access computers. Wi-fi wireless Internet is available throughout the building. The northeast corner of the first floor is devoted to the Children's Library. It is hard to miss since a sand castle archway topped with a whimsical purple octopus forms the entrance. Inside, juvenile books on various reading levels are kept in wooden bins with intricately carved sea creatures on the sides. All materials are kept accessible at children's level. The bins and child size furniture were made possible by Friends of the Library, who donated over $30,000 to the new facility. Scattered around are huge, animal shaped cushions where children can curl up and read. Five computers for kids are available, including one innovative device with multicolored keys, which talks to tots while teaching them how to use it. The second and intermediate stories are accessible by stairs or elevators. Stepping onto the second floor, people may be momentarily dazed by the fact that they are looking straight down to the bottom of the first floor, because the center of the library is open to roof level. This gives the building an airy, expansive ambience. The second floor is the more traditional library area and home to the reference section (including a digitized file of newspaper clippings), adult fiction (other than recently published) and nonfiction. The Maryland History room can be found there as well. In between the first and second floors is a half story, which houses a large meeting room which can be used by various community groups and includes facilities for film screenings. In addition to being practical and very pleasing to the eyes the library is also environmentally friendly. This "green" building features hardwood floors of renewable bamboo and energy efficient lights. Geothermal heating provides comfortable, energy saving heating and cooling. Among other services the library hosts various programs throughout the year, including book discussions, storytelling hours, film screenings and some unexpected things such as watercolor classes and yoga. A complete schedule of events at this location as well as the Ocean Pines, Snow Hill and Pocomoke branches can be found at www.worcesterlibrary.org. New acquisitions and other holdings in the library's catalog can also be accessed from this website. According to Branch Manager Andrea Schlottman over 3,000 people visited this state of the art facility during the first eight days it was open and several hundred new patrons signed up for library cards. Anyone owning property in Maryland or with a local address is eligible to receive a library card at no charge. Nonresidents can obtain a card for the nominal fee of $10 per year. The library is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sundays. One teen visitor aptly summed up the new facility with: "This is awesome!"
By Carol Ann Ellis
Uploaded:
4/9/2008
