November 22, 2019

Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Marilyn Praisner Branch Reopens


The Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Marilyn Praisner Branch in Burtonsville was reopened on Nov. 16 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 Congressman John Sarbanes, State Delegate Eric Luedtke; County 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 Betsey Matthews and members of the community.

“I am delighted that the Burtonsville community has its refurbished library back,” said County Executive 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.

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. 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.

For more information about the refresh, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DGS-BDC/711502-Praisner.html.