New Hyattsville Branch Library Opens March 30 With Special Events, Ribbon Cutting

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The new 40,258 square-foot Hyattsville Branch Library at 6530 Adelphi Road will open to the public March 30. Opening day festivities are open to the public and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. featuring Prince George's County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Council Member Deni Taveras, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System CEO Roberta Phillips, PGCMLS Board President Toni A. Smith, Rico Newman who is a member of the Elders Council of the Choptico Band of Piscataway Indians, along with other guests.

“The Hyattsville Branch Library is a beautiful, open building that reflects the spirit and diversity of the Hyattsville community,” Phillips said. “I am grateful to all of our partners and customers who contributed to the creation of this space that carries on the library’s commitment to literacy and lifelong learning, inclusion, creativity, personal achievement and healthy living.”

The library includes PGCMLS’ first ever vegetative or green roof for stormwater mitigation, first parking garage and the following features:

• 84 public computers for the public – the largest number at any PGCMLS branch library
• 2 meeting rooms
• Conference room
• Makerspace/computer lab
• Art room
• 2-sided fireplace
• Vending café with bookstore area
• 8 study rooms (2 in the children’s room)
• Reading terrace
• Reading garden featuring the restored flying saucer and art
• 2 Art in Public Places commissions – one interior and one exterior
• Prince George’s Room with a collection focused on local history and genealogy
• Sustainability features including solar panels, light-colored PVC roofing, energy-efficient and “smart” HVAC system, electric vehicle charging stations, locally-sourced bricks, terracotta panels with long life cycles that will not weather or need replacement, metal panels made of recycled components.

The theme of the children’s area is “discovery village.” It features elements of classical children’s literature such as a castle with a drawbridge, the Three Little Pigs’ houses and troll bridge where children can sit and read, a friendly dragon, an enchanted tree and the Yellow Brick Road.
Art at the Hyattsville Branch Library.

The Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council Art in Public Places program commissioned two works by Prince George’s County artists for display at the new Hyattsville Branch Library. Valerie Theberge of Mount Rainier created a mosaic-tiled mural below the renovated flying saucer. Curtis Woody of Upper Marlboro, a mixed media artist, created a mural for the branch entrance that honors the history of the Hyattsville community.

“PGCMLS is proud that the new Hyattsville Branch Library design and features are directly informed by customer feedback that was collected during five community forums,” Michael Gannon, Chief Operating Officer for Public Services at the library, said. “The top priorities identified were to maintain the same location, embrace sustainable design, keep the flying saucer, offer plentiful study and collaboration spaces, expand the children’s area and increase the availability of computers.”

Face masks continue to be required at PGCMLS buildings for everyone ages 2 and up.

Schedule of Events for opening day March 30 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• 10 a.m.: Ribbon-cutting ceremony (ASL interpretation)
• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: family activities and library card sign-up
  • Virtual reality
  • 3D printer showcase
  • Love Your Hyattsville Library collaborative mural
  • Women’s History Month photobooth
  • Scavenger hunt
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Ready 2 Read Storytime (English/Spanish)
• 4-6 p.m.: Community Resource Fair

Hyattsville Branch Library Hours
The Hyattsville Branch Library’s regular hours, starting March 31 will be:

• Monday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday through Wednesday: 12 to 8 p.m.
• Thursday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed*

*Sunday hours at the Hyattsville Branch Library will begin Oct. 2.