Damascus library project gets grant

Staff Report

It’s 10 years the county’s library has worked to raise the money to expand the Damascus branch.
On Monday, all the planning began to pay off. Library Director Charlotte Parsons announced that, after a $582,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation, the library has the funding needed to move forward with construction.
The expansion will be more than just space, Parsons said. The new building will have room for a tourist and visitor’s center
“We’re very relieved to have the money for construction,” said Parsons.
In addition to the Virginia Department of Transportation grant, Parsons said that the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission kicked in $100,000, Washington County gave $300,000 and the town of Damascus has pledged $30,000, as well as the land to put the new library on.
The expansion, according to a Washington County Public Library Press Release, would add 720 plus square feet for a community meeting room and 400 plus square feet for the information and visitor’s center. It will also feature wireless Internet access, 1- plus computers for public use, literacy training and parking and storage space for bicycles and hiking gear.
Next step, Parsons said, is signing a contract with an architect. Parsons hopes construction can get under way in the fall.
Meanwhile, it’s back to the fundraising. It’ll take money, after all, she said, to furnish the inside of the building. Two fundraisers are planned, a raffle ticket sale offering a chance to win $2,000 in gas cards and a Damascus cookbook filled with recipes from the cooks and chefs in and around town.
Parsons said she hopes a “green design” can be incorporated in the construction, including selecting construction materials and using operating practices that have low impact on the environment. However, Parsons said that plan is contingent on funding.
“We hope to make it a model for future development in the town of Damascus. We hope that it is a source of pride for the community and reflects the region,” she said.