Sollers Point Library Branch Open for Business

Just two months after opening, the Sollers Point library branch is bustling.

And that's without a sign to let the community know the new library is open for business, according to Erika Cooper, the librarian-in-charge at the new 5,000-square foot facility.

Recognizing the importance of exposing children to reading at a young age, the branch has two new programs for babies and preschoolers and each has room for growth.

Preschool Story Time is held at 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday.

The program for children ages 2 to 5 (who must be accompanied by an adult) provides an environment  for parents to "nurture a love of reading by enjoying stories, activities and songs together," according to branch literature.

No advance registration is required and participants are encouraged to stop by when possible, Cooper said.

"And there is never a fee for any of our programs," she said.

Saturday Baby Boosters Story Time is held the first and third Saturday of each month.

Created for babies from birth through 23 months (with an adult), the program offers simple stories, music, movement and rhymes for parent and child.

Because of the age group, the program is limited to 15 participants and preregistration is required, according to Cooper.

"We like to keep the group to a small, intimate group," she said.

The program next meets March 17.

The branch is in the new Sollers Point Multipurpose Center, next door to Sollers Point Technical High School on Sollers Point Road.

With Cooper working hard to network with schools, churches and other organizations to let residents know the branch is open for business, traffic at the branch has been brisk since its Dec. 19 ribbon cutting ceremony.

From its opening through the end of February, the library welcomed 12,756 visitors and had a circulation of 7,220. Ten public computers were used 3,153 times and the branch has 206 registered borrowers.

"And that's without a sign at the end of the road to let people know we're here," Cooper said.

The multipurpose center also houses a recreation center, and the library benefits from residents who participate in activities, according to Cooper.

"We get a lot of teens and middle-schoolers who stop in after school and we get a lot of the basketball players and their parents," Cooper said. "It's been good for us."

Library patrons can help themselves to a collection of 16,000 items, including traditional books, DVDs, books on compact discs, Playaways (a digital device loaded with a specific book), music CDs, magazines and newspapers.

The Summer Reading Club with popular mascot Sneaks the Cat is gearing up for the coming season. The popular program will have the theme "Dream Big."

In addition to helping keep school-age children on point with reading skills over the summer, the club also provides older students with a place to earn mandatory service learning hours by volunteering.

"We're recruiting volunteers now," Cooper said.

Turner Station resident Willie Moore on Wednesday was checking his email on one of the branch's public computers.

"This is fantastic," he said of the new facility. "It really helps the community."

Moore is able to walk to the library from his home and said it was much more difficult getting to the North Point Library before the neighborhood branch was built.

"This is much easier and more convenient," he said.

Cooper will continue her outreach efforts to educate the community about its new library branch.

In the meantime, her staff of eight is ready to greet and assist the branch's regular patrons.

Sollers Point Library Branch Details:

Where: 323 Sollers Point Road

Hours:  9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday
             9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday
             1 to 5 p.m., Sunday (October through April)

Phone: 410-288-3123