For 50 years, patrons of the Hyattsville branch library have passed under the flying saucer entrance and into a library notable as the county's first regional branch. This iconic community building is in jeopardy, though, due to a recent decision by the library system and the county to raze the existing building and construct a new library with less square footage than the current one. Prior to this decision, however, the capital improvement programs called for renovating the existing library and constructing an addition due to the increasing demand for services in the area. A 2010 assessment of county libraries noted the Hyattsville library appeared structurally sound, despite years of deferred maintenance. The decision to demolish the current library was made without public input and without completing the standard facility and need assessment that would help inform the decision-making process. With public funding at stake and at a time of budget austerity, it would be fiscally prudent to consider renovation. Furthermore, it would save a significant and iconic piece of county history.

We are asking library and county officials to revisit the decision to demolish the library and begin a deliberative planning process that is guided by public input, informed by appropriate and standard evaluations, conducted in a transparent manner, and includes an open bidding process so that a variety of architectural firms can bid on the project.