The Gum Spring Library is Coming to South Riding

South Riding will soon have a public library – and it won’t be the stuffy, old “be-quiet-and-sit-in-your-seat-and-read-the-encyclopedia” library of the past.  The future Gum Spring Library is going to be one cool local hang-out! 

The library will be located in the Stone Ridge Village Center. It's being constructed as the result of a proffer agreement between Loudoun County and Van Metre. Van Metre is building the shell of a four-story building that must completed by June 30. The lower two floors will be deeded to the county for the library. The upper two floors will be office condos leased by Van Metre. After June 30, the county will begin building out the interior of the library.

The interior build-out is estimated to take about 12 months. The library should be open to the public by fall of 2012, according to Karen Montgomery, Loudoun County Library Board of Trustee and Chair of the Friends of the Gum Spring Library (FROGS). 

When completed, the Gum Spring Library will be 40,000 square feet and will feature:

• 160,000 books and materials
• Community meeting rooms
• Computers for internet access
• Teen Center
• Special children and tween areas
• Children’s Fairytale Room
• Public programs for adults, teens and children
• Full professional staff 

Thanks to the 2007 bond referendum for $7.13 million plus some cash proffers, the county will furnish the interior of the library and stock the book shelves. The day-to-day operating budget will be paid for through the Loudoun County budget, however not all budgetary needs will be covered with public monies.

FROGS is a non-profit organization that is raising additional necessary funds to support the future library. It's counting on both corporate and individual donors to help make the Gum Spring Library more personal to its community with things like public art and specialty items for the teen center, etc. Naming rights are also available for the Teen Center, Children’s Area, Meeting Rooms, etc.

How can YOU help? 

1. Participate in and support the FROGS Family Fun Walk on Saturday, April 9 from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon at the Stone Ridge Information Center. Activities include a fun bounce, face painting, raffle prizes and an easy two-mile walk through Stone Ridge. Registration is $10 for children under 18 and $15 for adults. You are guaranteed a t-shirt if you register by March 19. Go to gumspringlibrary.blogspot.com to register online. You can also register the day of the walk at the Information Center.
2. Send an email to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors at bos@loudoun.gov to thank them for keeping the library on schedule and tell them you support future funding for the new library.
3. E-mail your ideas for exhibits, programs and activities to FROGS at GumSpringLibrary@msn.com.
4. Donate books. FROGS does not yet have a location to store books, but you can contact the Loudoun Library Foundation at library.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=118 to view the guidelines and donate your used books.
5. Attend a FROGS meeting. The FROGS Board currently consists of ten members, two of whom are high school students. They meet the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Stone Ridge Information Center.
6. Become “friends” with FROGS on Facebook.

Keep checking Chantilly Patch for more updates on the Gum Spring Library and ways you can help make this our new local “hot spot”!