Library to Return With Eye on New Readers

Rust Branch to Reopen After 2-Year Renovation

By Kafia A. Hosh

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Loudoun County will have a new chill spot where teenagers can socialize and play video games: Rust Library.

The library, on Old Waterford Road in Leesburg, is scheduled to reopen Saturday with new features including an enclosed teen center and expanded children's area.

It closed in summer 2007 to undergo a $10.4 million renovation. During construction, the library had moved to a temporary location in a former video store on Catoctin Circle.

Rust has nearly doubled in size, from 23,000 square feet to 42,900 square feet. It added 90,000 materials to its collection of books, music and Blu-ray discs.

The library boasts 10 study rooms, more than 70 public computers, including a 15-seat computer lab, and a meeting room with a 260-person capacity. Library users who prefer to take their laptops will have access to Rust's wireless Internet service.

One of the library's biggest additions is the x 4,000-square-foot teen center. The center is designed like a cyber cafe with lime green and black cushioned booths and round tables with rows of computers. It also has two rooms for group study sessions and a separate lounge area with a flat-screen television where teenagers can take a study break and play video games. Teen magazines line the center's shelves along with classic novels.

About five years ago, Rust's teen advisory board made suggestions on the center's design to library architects, said Linda Holtslander, a division manager of the Loudoun library system.

Photo Gallery

Rust Library Reopens

Photo: 0/1

« Previous | Next »

Larger Version

Linda Holtslander, Division Manager of Loudoun County Public Libraries, inside the newly renovated Rust Library. The library features ceramic tile work of Loudoun County artist Joan Gardiner. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Partial view of the A.V. Symington Teen Center inside the Rust Library, a 4,000-square-foot enclosed space for teens. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Partial view of the A.V. Symington Teen Center inside the Rust Library, a 4,000-square-foot enclosed space for teens. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Along with movies (DVD's, Blu-Ray's) and CD's, the Rust Library also has wireless Internet access, 70 public access computers and a 15-seat computer lab. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Decorative bookcases in the Children's section of Rust Library. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

A detail of the Entry Wall of Rust Library. The artist, Joan Gardiner, created a tile wall with details of the Rust family and A. V. Symington, and other Americanisms that illustrate experiences of growing up in the United States. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

A detail of the Entry Wall of Rust Library. The artist, Joan Gardiner, created a tile wall with details of the Rust family and A. V. Symington, and other Americanisms that illustrate experiences of growing up in the United States. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Exterior of the newly renovated Rust Library in Leesburg, VA. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Overview inside the newly renovated Rust Library in Leesburg, VA. (Tracy A. Woodward)

View all thumbnails

"They wanted it to look like Starbucks," she said.

Douglas A. Henderson, library system director, said county officials hope to reinvent the library's image to teenagers.

"Teens were considered the lost generation of the library," he said. "What we're trying to do is meld the social [element] into a library setting. We want this to be a lively, interactive location for them."

The teen center is adjacent to Rust's expanded children's area, which is painted in bright orange and blue hues and has a new story-time room with a projector.

Another new feature is Rust's self-check-in system that uses radio frequency identification technology. The system allows library users to drop books down a computerized chute that automatically checks the books back in.

The system saves the library money, Henderson said, because it replaces the cost of having to hire someone who would have to manually check materials back in.

"That's just for efficiency," he said. "Budgets are tight."

The renovation was paid for mostly with money from a general obligation bond approved by county voters in November 2001. Rust was also the recipient of a $4.9 million donation from the late philanthropist A.V. Symington. The teen center and the children's story-time room are named after Symington. About $1 million of Symington's contribution was used to construct the teen center, pay for the automated check-in system and the library's artwork.

Henderson said that interest from the rest of Symington's donation will be used to pay for the library's music and cultural programs.

On a recent day, the library's 37-member staff buzzed around the facility putting books on shelves and checking inventory as they prepared for the grand opening.

Rust, which is one of the county's busiest libraries, is estimated to have 30,000 visitors per month and about 1 million items checked out per year.

Henderson pointed to a selection of DVDs and music stacked neatly on several rows of shelves.

"This is going to be empty after the first 10 minutes we're open," he said.

Rust Library will have its grand opening at 11 a.m. Saturday with children's face painting, music and dance performances and refreshments.

Tagged: book, children, library, Rust Library, teens, Waterford

Your Thoughts...

Are you happy that the school year is over?