As reported by Demetrius Dillard at The Avenue News on April 9, 2025: https://www.avenuenews.com/news/local/will-middle-river-be-getting-a-new-library/article_e606d992-620c-4802-bf22-fa151dd12604.html
Over the past several weeks, conversations and requests of a new library in Middle River have seemed to pick up momentum.
Concurrent with the Baltimore County Public Library’s hopes of building a Middle River branch, which would be the 20th location in the BCPL system, an increasing number of area residents desire to see a new library.
Virtually every well-populated community in eastern Baltimore County has a library branch, including Essex, Dundalk (which has two branches), Rosedale, White Marsh and Perry Hall. Considering the relatively rapid growth of Middle River — especially the Greenleigh district — community leaders and residents in the area feel it’s only reasonable to have a library there.
BCPL officials are hoping to capitalize on what they call a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to partner with developers in the Greenleigh community to build a new 21st-century-modeled library.
The proposal includes a 25,810-square-foot library branch and adjacent 116-space parking lot that will, according to BCPL, would be well-suited for the growing mixed-used community.
Over the past several months, Councilman David Marks has been one of the most outspoken advocates of a new library branch in Middle River. He created a task force to support the new library and has had discussions with BCPL CEO Sonia Alcántara-Antoine regarding the opportunity.
“I believe that our long-term goals must include the opening of a separate library branch in the Middle River area,” Marks wrote in his op-ed “Middle River needs a library.”
“Not only would a Middle River library be more accessible for residents of Bowleys Quarters, Chase and Oliver Beach, but it would be a valuable resource for those who live and work in Greenleigh, the 1,000-acre master-planned community off White Marsh Boulevard.”
For Middle River to get a library, Greenleigh-based developers who own the 26,000 square feet of property tentatively set aside for the proposed library must come to an agreement with BCPL and the Baltimore County government by June 30. Prior to the encounter with BCPL officials, Greenleigh developers planned to construct residential units on the plot of land, according to Alcántara-Antoine, who said it’s been her desire to see a library constructed in Middle River.
“As I started to learn more about the Baltimore County community and seeing where the growth areas were, and seeing that Middle River is the fastest growing part of Baltimore County and we do not have a presence there,” Alcántara-Antoine told The Avenue.
She said she approached Marks with the idea, and he subsequently introduced her and BCPL colleagues to executives with St. John Properties, a major developer in the Greenleigh community.
“He’s been a champion for the project, as have all of the elected leaders at the state level that represent eastern Baltimore County,” Alcántara-Antoine said of Marks and other local politicians.
“They’re very much interested in seeing a library in Middle River because they recognize the value that public libraries bring to any community. Libraries change lives, libraries strengthen communities. It would have a really positive impact, not just for the residents of Middle River specifically, but really all of Baltimore County if we’re able to achieve a library there.”
If St. John Properties were to facilitate the construction of a Middle River library, the company would lease the property to Baltimore County, Alcántara-Antoine added. How that particular arrangement would look would be determined by an agreement between the three entities: BCPL, the county government and St. John Properties.
Over the next couple of months, BCPL plans to engage with the county government and developers to ultimately build the new library. If an agreement is fully executed, the design and construction would take approximately 18 months.
“We really are interested in reaching an agreement with Baltimore County government and St. John Properties so that we can move forward with the construction of a new Middle River library,” said Alcántara-Antoine, who attended the recently held budget town hall meetings in Districts 5, 6 and 7.
“I’m optimistic. I think that there are a lot of things in our favor.”
Libraries in the 21st century do more than provide books, Marks continued, saying that data indicates Middle River residents don’t frequent branches in nearby towns.
“While Middle River residents could conveniently visit branches in Essex, White Marsh, or Perry Hall, data indicates that they do not,” he said.
A petition recently began to attract support for the development of a new Middle River library. As of April 9 at 10 a.m., it has secured 1,035 signatures and bipartisan support from members of the state legislature and county council.
Joshua Sines, president of the Essex-Middle River Civic Council, shares the similar sentiments to Marks.
“In the past 25 years Middle River has had a tremendous amount of development — an increase of 38% in population,” Sines said in a letter promoting the petition.
“To be fair, Baltimore County Councilman David Marks has been one of the best advocates for Middle River we’ve ever had, but funding and budget items are all the authority of the County Executive’s office. Please take five minutes to sign the petition below to let the County Executive know we want this library.”
The County Executive’s office could not comment on the possibility of a Middle River library as the FY26 county budget has not been finalized. County Executive Kathy Klausmeier will present her proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the County Council on Friday beginning at 10 a.m.
