Ribbon-Cutting Celebration Opens Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Marilyn Praisner Branch

For Immediate Release: Saturday, November 16, 2019

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, Nov. 16, reopened the Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Marilyn Praisner Branch located at 14910 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. The event marked the official reopening of the branch after being closed to be “refreshed” under the Library Refurbishment Level-of-Effort initiative in the County’s Capital Improvements Program. 

County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by Delegate Eric Luedtke; Councilmembers Tom Hucker and Will Jawando; Alison Klumpp, daughter of Marilyn J. Praisner; Department of General Services Director David Dise; Director of Public Libraries Anita Vassallo; Friends of the Library-Marilyn Praisner chapter President Dr. Betsey Matthews, and members of the community. 

“I am delighted that the Burtonsville community has its refurbished library back,” said Elrich. “Libraries are community hubs where our residents can participate in early literacy activities for children, educational programs for teens and adults, stay connected using the latest technology or relax with a great book.”

The refresh for the library includes redesigned service area with ergonomic sit/stand information and circulation desks; complete renovation of the public restrooms; Americans with Disability Act-accessibility upgrades; new sidewalk and parking lot improvements; color-coordinated accent painting, carpet and other floor finishes; LED lighting for retrofitted existing fixtures; new drinking fountain with bottle filling stations; sun filtering shades in collaboration rooms; additional shelves and new furniture in children’s room; new swinging and automatic sliding entrance doors; electric connectivity to most seating groups; and refinished exterior canopy.

“It is a pleasure to cut the ribbon for this newly refreshed Marilyn Praisner Branch,” said Vassallo. “Our library staff has worked hard to get the library ready, and our Department of General Services staffers have done an outstanding job on the capital project improvements. The library looks great, and I know the Burtonsville area residents are going to enjoy the many enhanced features and services.” 

The cost for the Marilyn Praisner refurbishment is $1.45M.  CDCI, Inc. served as the contractor for the project. NOA Architecture, Planning Interiors was the architect. 

“DGS is pleased to return this refreshed library to its dedicated patrons who will enjoy this improved, updated building,” said Dise. “The ‘Library Refresh’ program keeps our branches modernized and in good repair while saving our residents tens of thousands of dollars.” 

Partial funding for the project was provided by the County Library Capital Grant Program, Maryland State Library, as authorized by the Maryland General Assembly and supported by the Montgomery County Delegation.

The library opened immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony.

For more information about the refresh, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DGS-BDC/711502-Praisner.html. For more information about the library, including hours of operation and upcoming events, visit the Marilyn Praisner Library branch website. 

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Release ID: 19-388
Media Contact: Ohene Gyapong 240-777-6507