More News

Friends and family of Jacob Milliner are happy to learn that his memory will live on, as plans evolve for the renovation of the Olney Library.

Montgomery County Public Library spokeswoman Rita Gale said she has been working with architects to determine the fate of Jake's Garden, which was dedicated in 2007, and is located near the library's current entrance.

"We think there is the possibility that we can take the major elements of the garden, such as the stone pavers, and relocate them," she said. "The garden's current site won't be appropriate, but provided we can get things up and store them, we hope to be able to move them to a different area."

"Jake" was born with severe brain damage in February 2001. His parents, Olney residents Lee and Naomi Milliner, were told he likely would not survive his first year, but it was clear early on that Jake was a fighter and one to defy the odds, his mother said.

‘‘He was a really sweet baby, with a real strong will to live," Naomi Milliner said. ‘‘He was so easy to love."

Jake survived his first birthday, and even his second. It was not until he got sick and no longer had the strength to fight that he died in June 2003.

Naomi came up with the idea of creating a garden in his memory, and received permission to build it at the Olney Library.

‘‘One of the things we could do with Jake was read to him," she said. ‘‘This just made sense because I love books, my other sons love books, and we even brought Jake to the library a few times."

One of the books that Jake seemed to enjoy was the children's classic, ‘‘Goodnight Moon," by Margaret Wise Brown. Images and quotes from the book serve as the garden's theme.

Local businesses, organizations and individuals worked together to make the garden become a reality by donating money, supplies and time. The garden includes pavers, mosaic stepping stones, plants, flowers and a butterfly house.

"I definitely feel grateful that they want to find a space for the garden," said Naomi Milliner. "Both kids and adults derive comfort and pleasure from it, which I find very gratifying. It will be a major task and will require a lot of time and money to relocate it, but it will be worth the effort."

The library is scheduled to close for renovations at the end of November, Gale said.

The renovation will increase the size of the building, originally built in 1981, from 16,825 square feet to about 22,000 square feet, with an addition on front of the building and the west side along the existing driveway.

The county has allocated $12.6 million for the project in the 2009-14 Capital Improvements Plan, with construction slated to begin in January. Construction should take 18 months.

The exterior of the new building will consist of the existing brick, but will incorporate the addition of glass towers and plenty of windows. A curved addition will flow along the existing driveway, culminating at the building's entrance, located at the rear of the building near the existing parking lot. Only minor parking changes are planned, with capacity remaining the same.

The new library will have an extended children's area, a dedicated area for teens, increased and improved meeting space, and improved traffic flow.

A date has not been scheduled for one last public meeting, which will offer a final opportunity for public comments.

"It will probably be in September," Gale said. "It will provide a chance to see the final design, and we will take questions."

There is no funding for an interim facility in Olney when the branch is closed for renovation; patrons will need to visit other branches such as Aspen Hill and Rockville.

"The Friends of the Olney Library are looking into continuing some of the library's programming during that time," Gale said. "We know the community is interested, but we have just been focused on making sure our facilities are appropriately staffed."