In 2004, Howard County Library contracted with Providence Associates Inc. to develop the Howard County Library Facilities Assessment and Master Plan 2005-2030. Providence convened focus groups to assess community needs, which were incorporated into the program of requirements (POR) for an 82,500-square-foot Charles E. Miller Branch and Historical Center to replace the existing 23,500-square-foot branch. The plan and POR were based on information available at the time, and, as are all such plans, were subject to subsequent modifications.

Two years later, the county purchased 10 acres of land for the new Miller Branch. Design and engineering are under way, and next year, pending the County Council's approval of the county executive's proposed capital budget, construction will begin, albeit on a revised project. As frequently occurs with building projects, changed circumstances have resulted in necessary adjustments to the original POR.

What were the changed circumstances?

First and foremost, the economy. Demonstrating fiscal responsibility in a tighter economic climate was of utmost importance as the Howard County Library Board of Trustees weighed the merits of various options to keep the Miller project on track while competing with other capital project requests to the county.

Secondly, following a community-wide charrette process, the county government and General Growth Properties Inc. indicated strong support for a new or expanded Central Library. Had this opportunity presented itself four years back, the plan and POR would have reflected a larger Central Library.

The Board of Trustees discussed these new circumstances at its public meetings, which resulted in the board's unanimous approval of an adjusted POR, resulting in a 63,000-square-foot building, nearly three times the size of the current facility. The adjustments reduced a $35.8 million project to $28.9 million.

All adjustments have left intact the essential services outlined in the original POR:

* The square footage allocated to traditional library use of the building and meeting room space remains the same as in the original POR.

* There will be no fewer books and no fewer computers than in the original POR.

In no way has the capacity for materials, computers, study space and meeting rooms been diminished; the collection area will be the same size as in the original POR.

Which areas were adjusted?

Areas that have been reduced are staff workroom spaces and the lobby entry area, which included art exhibition space. While a small auditorium has been eliminated, the new Miller Branch will have more than three times the meeting room space of any other branch.

The new branch will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the educational needs of everyone in the greater Ellicott City area. Thanks to an envisioned partnership with the Howard County Historical Society, students and researchers will benefit from a wealth of historical and genealogical resources.

We are pleased that County Executive Kenneth Ulman included $7.7 million in his proposed fiscal year 2009 capital budget for phase one of construction, with the balance of the project funding allocated for fiscal year 2010. We are also pleased to be receiving nearly half a million dollars from the state in fiscal 2009 toward construction. Beginning construction in fiscal 2009 means that we can schedule the ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2011.

We are grateful to the community for the value it places in the Library. We hope you will consider assisting us with the final segment of this year's budget process by expressing your support to the County Council for a brand new, 63,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Charles E. Miller Branch and Historical Center.

Charles J. Broida is chairman of the Howard County Library Board of Trustees.

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