McLean Welcomes Back Its Library With Rave Reviews

McLean was reunited with its library yesterday in a warm embrace.

The reopening of the Dolley Madison library after its $8 million face-lift felt like a family reunion. Parents brought their children who instantly settled among the shelves and in their parents laps for story time. Other neighbors dropped by to ohhh and ahhh over the 16 foot high floor-to-ceiling windows that are the library's back wall, giving it the feeling of a country retreat.

The government officials and politicians were there too for the formalities, but the day really belonged to the neighbors.

"I think it's wonderful and it's within walk distance of my house," said Jessica MacDonald, who lives down the street. "I love the windows because they open to the scenery outside. There's a lot of seating. I really love it."

"It's just gorgeous," said Naoko Ohno who was trying to keep up with daughter Hana,2. The family recently moved to McLean, heard about the library opening and came for the story telling.

"What a beautiful, beautiful library," Sharon Bulova, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, told the gathering of about 120 who stood in the brilliant sunshine in the library's front yard for the official opening. "The floor to ceiling windows take your breath away," she said.

Dranesville Supervisor John Foust reminded the neighbors that his office is soliciting essays and drawings from the kids that will be placed in a time capsule in October.

A library "is much more than brick and mortar," he said. 'It is a community institution for the public good."

The gathering for the opening included: Bob Alden, the father of the McLean Community Center and a long-time McLean resident. State Del. Bob Brink, who now represents much of McLean in the General Assembly. State Del. Barbara Comstock, who represents much of the rest of McLean. Pamela Danner, former president of the McLean Foundation, who is running against Comstock in the November election. State Sen. Janet Howell. Katayoon Shaya, the county's project manager who kept the library on time and on budget. Robin Walker, a member of the McLean Community Center Board.

The library with its 140-foot long wall of  floor-to-ceiling windows was designed by the Washington architecture firm of Bowie Gridley. Richard Salopek, McLean resident, former chair of the McLean Planning Committee, works for the Bowie Gridley, and helped with the library design.

"We did a great job on it," Salopek said. "Now you have this beautiful wall of windows. It will be like having a changing palette of colors over the changing seasons," he said. "I think it will really surprise people," he said.

John Foust thanked three citizens --- Frank Crandall, long-time chair of the Environment, Parks and Recreation Committee of the McLean Citizens Association, and citizens Merrily Pierce and Whit Field,  who had fought the county for a "park and tree friendly" library.

"The renovation represents the (McLean) community values of learning, accessibility and maintaining our environment," Pierce said. "The building is compatible with the environment because of the community."

 She said she and other battled the county for several years because "I didn't want to walk through the doors and be angry every time," she said.

Nearby Randall Popelka was introducing son Dane, 5, to the joys of the library. "This is great. I have a five-year-old and a two-year-old and I see us using this library often. Keds now read on the intenet and I want my children to read real books --- books with covers," he said.

Dane's review: I like it. It has lots of books."

In the back front of the windows Jack Kempton, 2, nestled in the lap of his aunt Rose Palabrica of McLean. "He loves books," she said. "And we needed to get out of the heat today."

McLean librarian Starr Smith, said a few days ago as she and her staff were arranging their 50,000 books and putting the finishing touches on their new address: "The thing I'm most excited about is getting this open to the community. We just want our family back again. We have missed them."

Saturday the family returned home.

What's New at the Library?

• The library has doubled in size.
  

• Baskets now await customers at the front door. Instead of toting around your books and magazines, you can browse with a basket.

• 24 public computers, an increase of 10.

• Each desk is equipped with a lamp and you can plug your computer into the base. The library is totally wired. Walk in. Plug in. Go surf.

• More meeting space for community groups.

• An LCD bulletin board at the front desk.

• A small, ultra-quiet study room was one of the most requested additions, said librarian Starr Smith, who heads the Dolley Madison library.

• An expanded book checkout area because McLean neighbors tended to gather there.

• Expanded new book section in the front of the library. The magazine reading area in the back is much larger and will have comfy furniture for readers who want to stay awhile.

• The Dolley Madison Library is the third most popular of the county’s 14  community libraries and serves one of the must educated and affluent communities in the U.S.

The library is closed today but will reopen 10 am Monday.