Gaithersburg Library Re-Opens Saturday

Soon, Gaithersburg will once again have a library of its own.

After closing in 2010 and after some construction delays, a new and improved Gaithersburg Library will officially re-open on Saturday.

Local officials are expected to mark the occasion with a ribbon cutting.

The $23 million renovation nearly doubled the library’s size, expand Wi-Fi and computer access and offers more space for children and young adult services. There were also new HVAC, lighting, electrical and pluming systems installed, library officials have said.

The new a space at 18330 Montgomery Village Ave. will house a satellite office of the Gilchrist Center, the county’s immigrant welcome agency.

Gaithersburg Library was identified for renovation more than 10 years ago, county budget records show. The site was one of the busiest in the county, with foot traffic surpassing 740,000 people in fiscal year 2010, the year it closed for renovations.

In 2011, the county awarded the project to Gaithersburg-based Henley Construction Inc.; the project was expected to take 18 months to complete.

But in fall 2011, project got delayed by permitting and design issues related to storm water management, Patch reported back in October 2011.

The target date was pushed to spring 2013, but another round of delays pushed the opening date back even farther.

The county leased a temporary space at Lakeforest Mall to try to meet some of the demand during construction.