County Officials Consider New Hereford Library, Senior Center

County officials and community leaders are in early stages of a discussion about building a new Hereford Library, which may also include a senior center.

Unlike all other Baltimore County library branches, which are housed in buildings owned by the government, Hereford remains the only branch that is leased. The structure is 7,500 square feet, and the Friends of the Hereford Library, a volunteer advocacy group, believes the building is too small.

"After 20 plus years of growth as a valuable community resource, the branch has outgrown its current leased space and is in need of expanded areas for collections, a meeting room, more open space and significantly improved parking," Laura Pawlak, the president of the advocacy group, wrote to Patch in an email.

District 3 Councilman is supportive of the initiative, but said the county's financial limitations need to be considered.

"Right now, I'm looking at the feasibility of a brand new Hereford Library," Huff said. "The library, as it is now, is just bursting at the seams."

Baltimore County Public Library Director Jim Fish said the library's lease expires in a year, and the county is more than likely to renew it. But now is the time to start talking about the possibility of a new building down the line. 

"Never too soon to be talking about a good idea," Fish said. "The people who live in Northern Baltimore County really use the library. Hopefully, fiscal times will get better."

Discussions about the construction of a new library have also included the idea of merging the Mt. Carmel Senior Center, which is currently housed once a week at the Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Parkton.

"Because the prototype for new construction in Baltimore County has become multi-use community buildings, we have combined our efforts with those of the Mt. Carmel Senior Center, which is also in a totally inadequate leased space, and both organizations are advocating for a new multi-use building in the Hereford area to house both the library and an updated senior center," Pawlak wrote.

Charles Castle, a representative from the center, said the county needs to seriously consider the elderly in its planning. He said the senior population, referring to those 65 and older, is expected to double in the next seven years in Northern Baltimore County.

Castle said having a senior center that the growing elderly population can use throughout the week is absolutely necessary. The current location can only accomodate about 75 people at a time even though there are more than 500 members.

"Don't wait until you have enough money," he said. "Plan now to get ready for the future. It's discriminatory to leave us out."

Hereford Community Association President Paul Cummins also thinks steps need to be taken for a new library and senior center, but he expressed concerns as well.

"The biggest problem is trying to find land in Hereford that can accommodate both," Cummins said. "We agree on the fact that the library should be expanded, but there is a lot to consider."