I was very happy to join other elected officials and community leaders at the recent announcement that all Baltimore County public libraries will now have Sunday hours. Every branch in Baltimore County will now be open on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m.
Even more important to the Fifth District is the news that the Loch Raven library will finally have full-service status. This is fantastic news for residents along the Loch Raven Boulevard corridor. Loch Raven has lacked a full-service branch for 20 years. The branch closed in 1993 due to budget cuts, reopening five years later with only part-time status.
I have argued for a full-time branch since my election to the Baltimore County Council. The neighborhoods along the Loch Raven Boulevard corridor deserve the same access to a community library as other populated neighborhoods in Baltimore County. While there are still questions about the long-term future of this aging branch, full-service status is an important step forward.