New Sterling Library Opening and Town Hall on April 15!

New Sterling Library Opening and Town Hall on April 15!

But out greatest achievement was to have it remain in our community!

Celebrate Sterling Library's new location grand opening on Saturday, April 15 at 22330 South Sterling Blvd, Suite A117 in the Sterling Plaza Shopping Center across from the Safeway and Joe's Pizzeria. Please arrive at 10 am for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and festivities with music by World View of Park View High School. There will be a Town Hall at 11 am with Sterling District Supervisor Koran Saines.

Our new branch located in the very heart of Sterling, will include modern space for programs and meetings, study rooms, expanded teen and children's spaces, expanded Spanish-language collection, and increased computer access.

The new branch will also feature a "maker space" with a recording studio, 3D printers, laser cutters, and sewing machines. "Our Makers in Loudoun Libraries initiative gives everyone the chance to use their creativity and explore their interests in technology," said Chang Liu, Director of Loudoun County Library Service.

In addition, the new library will be the first to remain open until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays as opposed to the regular 5 pm closing time.

In 2014, Loudoun County voters approved a referendum to relocate, renovate, expand and equip the Sterling Library. According to Director Liu, “Broad-based community input and ideas were essential to making the project a success.”

Long-time Sterling Park resident, community activist and volunteer, Helen Casey, who passed away last year, reminisced about the library in writing a couple of years ago to former Sterling Planning Commissioner and Sterling Historical & Heritage Preservation Committee (SHHPC) member Helena Syska: “When we moved here in 1970, things were pretty simple and the County didn't do a lot to provide services. So the folks here used one of the developer's homes (I think donated by the developer) on Sterling Boulevard to house our library and volunteer rescue squad. The library took up half of the house and was filled with donated books, and the librarian was a volunteer. . . . When our children needed reference material for school, we drove to Reston to use their library, which we were entitled to at no cost. . . . . .The last time they tried to change/remove our library, there were a lot of us who got together to prevent losing the local library and have it moved to Cascades. We put in a lot of hours helping move books and repair them at that time. It was, as usual, a community effort! But out greatest achievement was to have it remain in our community!”

The Sterling Library has been a vital part of the Park Community for nearly 50 years. The physical space it occupied in co-location with the Sterling Community Center on Enterprise Street, is now closed to prepare for the grand opening of the new library on Saturday. The old space, which took up 6,000 square feet, had been in operation since the 1977 and could no longer support the community’s growing needs. The new library will be increased to comprise 14,500 square feet.

It will greatly expand the capabilities of the former Library, featuring:

• Larger Dedicated Children's Area

• Unique Teen Area

• Larger Adult Area

• Group Study Rooms

• Individual Study Rooms

• MILL Studio (Maker Space)

• More Meeting Space

• More Computer Areas

• More Lounge Seating

• Laptop Area

• Dedicated Staff Workroom

• Power Outlets + Wi-Fi Throughout

Visit Sterling Library Expansion @

https://library.loudoun.gov/News-Events/Sterling-Library-Expansion

For more information, contact the Sterling Library at 703-430-3220.

New Sterling Library Advisory Board

With the grand opening of the new Sterling Library set for Saturday, April 15, 2017, the current advisory board of the library will be undergoing its own transformation to keep pace with supporting the growing needs of the new library. Friends and advisory boards of libraries generally work outside of the library setting, communicating library strengths and needs to the public and also governing or funding authorities such as the Library Board of Trustees and Board of Supervisors. Friends may raise money through book sales, sponsorship of special events or other means at the discretion of the Library Board and staff. The role of the Friends and Advisors is a support group, rather than a policy-making body.

If you have a passion for ensuring the new Sterling Library will continue to grow, please consider volunteering your time and expertise to the Sterling Library Advisory Board. You can contact Keeley Mitchell, its chair, at SterlingLibraryAB@gmail.com

Bring an Art Mural to the New Sterling Library

Support the Sterling community and the arts in Loudoun County, Virginia by donating to this important cause! Award-winning "storyteller through ceramics" Joan Gardiner has been commissioned to create "Journeys to Sterling," a 10' x 10' art-tile project at the new Sterling Library to be completed by this summer. The project will represent the community through tiles inspired by photos of actual residents, and through colorful depictions of the travels many have made to arrive in Sterling.

Learn more about Joan's vision and visit @ https://www.gofundme.com/sterlinglibrary.