Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier will join federal and state lawmakers to announce $2.5 million in new state and federal funding for a future Essex Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.
The event is scheduled for the current Essex Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library location, 1110 Eastern Blvd. in Essex on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
Combined with the County’s previous $7 million investment in purchasing the site, the announcement brings total funding commitments to $9.5 million for the proposed new library.
The guest list includes:
• Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier
• U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen
• U.S. Representative Johnny Olszewski Jr.
• Maryland State Sen. Johnny Ray Salling
• Maryland State Del. Richard Metzgar
• Havaca Ganguly, President, Board of Library Trustees
• State and County elected officials
The proposed new library would be a 35,769-square-foot, multi-level facility on a 4.6-acre site at 1517 Old Eastern Avenue. Plans include meeting and conference rooms, an auditorium, a business center, dedicated spaces for children and teens, and a family zone.
The design would reflect Essex’s history, waterfront and aerospace manufacturing legacy, while outdoor amenities could include seating areas, play spaces, an amphitheater and a meadow.
Plans also include the potential for a tool library and food pantry, expanding the branch’s role as a community resource.