Wicomico County Council considers funding for Pittsville library move
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – The Pittsville branch of the Wicomico County Public Library (WCPL) is on the move. Tuesday night, Wicomico County Council is considering funding that would bring those services to a new location in Parsonsburg.
Vision of Improvement
Resolution 107-2024 would allow the Council to accept $571,895 from Wicomico County Free Library, Inc. to fund the project. The total price tag for the move and renovations is about $1.2 million.
“The vision is that we would finally have a beautiful, purpose-designed permanent space to serve eastern Wicomico County,” said WCPL Director Seth Hershberger.
The Pittsville location has been serving patrons since 1999, and Hershberger says it’s sorely in need of an upgrade.
“It’s in a trailer,” Hersberger said. “It’s suitable as a temporary location, which was the idea all along, but it’s crowded. There’s not enough space there for parking, let alone to do programs.”
Serving Patrons on the East Side
In 2022, Wicomico County Council helped WCPL officials purchase a building sitting on an acre of land on Parsonsburg Road.
“Then they provided some additional capital funding for this year so that we can renovate the space—not just renovate it, but design a really beautiful library,” Hershberger said.
The building is located about three miles from the current Pittsville location and measures up to about 3,000 square feet. Hershberger says plans for the new spot include public meeting rooms, reading and children’s areas, public computers, as well as better lighting and windows.
“We don’t just want to be the library for Salisbury,” Hershberger said. “We’re Wicomico’s public library, so we belong to everybody. And this, as far as I know, is the first time the library has established a permanent location away from our main branch.”
“A good move”
County Council member Joe Holloway says adding this resource to his district will be invaluable for residents who call the East side of the county home.
“We’re looking forward to having an expanded library on the East side of the county,” Holloway said. “I think with public service to the folks in the county, the libraries are very important and always have been. We’re proud of our library system, so I think it’ going to be a good move.”
Library officials are expecting the Parsonsburg branch to be a busy one; serving not just Parsonsburg and Pittsville, but Willards and other communities East of Salisbury. “It’s a growing area,” Hershberger remarked.
Looking Ahead
And, Hershberger says WCPL is ready to award a bid to a builder.
“We believe that the timeline will be about eight months, maybe a bit longer than that, before we’re ready to open,” Hershberger said. “In the meantime, we’re still open in Pittsville.”
