Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) officials today announced April 25 as the opening day for the new Riviera Beach Library. After the invite-only ribbon cutting, the branch will open at noon to customers. Special giveaways will be offered to the first 250 customers on Frida, April 26 and Saturday, April 27. On Sunday, April 28, the Library Foundation will also host a ticketed fundraising event from 3-5 p.m.
The new 20,000-square-foot building on the campus of the previous location at 1130 Duvall Highway in Pasadena, doubles the size of the former library and provides greater visibility for the facility. The new library offers four study rooms, expanded children and teen areas, a flexible community meeting room, an outdoor patio, a vending café and a new collection of books and other materials. Funding for the $16 million project comes from Anne Arundel County and the County Library Capital Grant Program, Maryland State Library Agency.
“We are overjoyed to announce the long-awaited opening of the new, modern Riviera Beach Library, poised to become a cornerstone of our community for generations to come. With state-of-the-art facilities, a wealth of resources, and a staff eager to welcome customers back to their new library, we celebrate the dawn of a new chapter in our collective pursuit of education, enrichment and inspiration,” said AACPL CEO Skip Auld.
Local architects Grimm and Parker describe the building as having an underwater theme with surfboard-shaped counters and a “boat ceiling”. There are multiple nautical references throughout the library including a coastal type of architecture in materials, color and finishes with oars and anchors. The design concept ties into the local nautical context and the area’s history of being a resort community at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. The building is expected to receive LEED Silver certification.
In addition to a ribbon cutting on opening day, AACPL and the Library Foundation will also provide special giveaways to the first 250 customers on April 26 and 27 and will host a ticketed Bay Breezes and Books event on Sunday, April 28, to celebrate the new library. The happy-hour style afternoon will feature delicious food and drink, live music, giveaways and the chance to explore the new building. Tickets will go on sale starting March 22, at aacpl.net/foundation.
