Library Board

Baltimore County's library board has narrowed its search for a director to a dozen candidates, and -- unlike the school board -- plans to reveal the final three to five contenders in May before making a choice.Board leaders say they want to include the library's employees and supporters in their selection process."We are looking for input," said Patricia Fisher, the library board president. By broadening the process, board members can see how candidates handle themselves before the public, she said.

A new library for Finksburg is likely to remain a priority for the county commissioners, even though the $1.7 million project had been cut from Carroll's six-year building plan. In a brief public meeting yesterday, the commissioners said they would like to include a Finksburg library in the plan, which outlines construction projects scheduled for 2001 to 2006. The commissioners did not say when money would be available for the project or when construction would begin. "With all the new residents in that area, there may be justification for a Finksburg library," said Commissioner Donald I. Dell.

Finksburg residents finally might get something they've wanted for years: a branch of Carroll County Public Library. The county is poised to clear two hurdles that would make a Finksburg branch possible: land and money. "There's a piece of property that we've identified that's acceptable to us," said Commissioner Donald I. Dell, who declined to reveal the location. The county is "waiting for a real commitment that the well and septic system would serve the library. If we find out that's positive, we can move forward."

Opening the Westminster branch of the Carroll County Public Library on Sundays would be a popular move, but library officials said they won't do it if it means giving up money for books and materials."

Crofton and Odenton will get new libraries in the next two years under a proposal announced Wednesday by the county executive.The county would build a 20,000- to 25,000-square-foot library in Crofton in the 1998 fiscal year, which begins July 1, and open a 40,000-square-foot West County library in Odenton the next year, County Executive John G. Gary said Wednesday in a speech to the county's General Assembly delegation."

After nearly two years of uncertainty about its future, Bel Air's public library on Hickory Avenue got a double dose of good news recently.The new Harford County budget proposed by the county executive includes $250,000 for architectural planning and design of a 45,000-square-foot renovation-expansion of the existing building.That follows a $50,000 budget allocation this fiscal year (which ends June 30) for an architect's feasibility study of extending the overcrowded, overused (if that's possible for a library)

Carroll County's library board would like to open the central Westminster branch on Sunday afternoons and expand hours on Fridays and Saturdays. That would be a welcome addition to the county's civic life.But the board also believes that increasing the library system's budget for books and materials is a more urgent priority. Considering the squeeze on all county departments for the next fiscal year, it is possible nei ther desire will be fulfilled.The chronic insufficient funding of the county library system is impeding its mission to serve the public.

Timothy Bach, 17, has finally reached the apex of his Scouting career -- and the Odenton Public Library is proof of his success.To achieve the prestigious Eagle rank, Timothy, of Boy Scout Troop 377, planted eight cherry trees along the library's exit path."

Anne Arundel County could lose a $500,000 parcel of land a developer has offered for a Russett branch library if officials don't commit to building the branch soon, said residents who support the project.The Build the Russett Branch Library committee wants County Executive-elect John G. Gary and the new County Council to put $5.2 million in the coming year's budget to build and furnish the library.Next month, the committee will present to Mr. Gary and the new council 1,000 petition signatures supporting the project, said Laura Waters, a committee organizer.

Library patrons may have to wait longer for their favorite titles next year since the county's money flow has slowed this year.The Carroll County Public Library Board of Trustees reluctantly removed $171,438 from money set aside for new books, tapes and magazines for fiscal year 1992, which starts July 1."We have to look at the worst-case scenario and see if we can live with that," said CCPL Director Martha M. Makosky at Wednesday's meeting. "Then we have to try and fix it from there."The library board made cuts after Steven D. Powell, county budget director, asked departments and agencies to reduce their new budgets by 2 percent.