The concept of a "grand library to anchor a new downtown Columbia" has spurred Valerie J. Gross to revamp the library's 25-year master plan, but it won't be the first time she has been willing to exchange a great vision for an even better one.
The executive director and chief executive officer of the Howard County Library was nearing completion of graduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1986 when she had an epiphany. Realizing she "immensely loved the work" at her part-time job in the school's music library, Gross opted to follow up her master's degree in voice with a master of library science degree a year later.
"I believe my life evolved as it did for a reason," said the classically trained singer, who later obtained a law degree.
She left her position as executive director of the Goshen Library in her home state of Indiana to take the reins of Howard County's six-branch library system in 2001.
"I jump out of bed every day ecstatic to be here and anxious to unleash creativity from my dedicated staff," she said. "I love what I do."
The concept of making the central library "a showcase" in an evolving master plan has garnered support from Columbia's general manager, Gregory F. Hamm, who met with Gross on Monday.
"The central library is the kind of cultural institution that will play an integral role in the community's vision and master plan for a redeveloped Columbia Town Center," said Hamm, who is regional vice president of General Growth Properties Inc.
Gross advocates transferring to a new Columbia library project the nearly 20,000 square feet of virtual space and accompanying funding that were freed up after plans for the new Ellicott City branch library were modified.
"There's no question that this entire vision would be enhanced" by reassigning the extra space and saved money, she said. While funding of the $26 million Frederick Road facility is not final, the $1.9 million design and engineering phase is under way.
Gross said the concept of a higher profile for the 50,000-square-foot main library began taking shape during the week of town meetings on the Town Center master plan that were sponsored by the county in October 2005.
"It was remarkable to hear how the library is critical to so many residents' lives," Gross said of the charrette that drew 400 to 500 people. While the library system's popularity wasn't exactly news - a consultant's study had determined in 2004 that 95.4 percent of county residents were library cardholders and nearly 5 million items had been circulated - the comments at the charrette hammered home that reality, she said.
