More good news for the little library in Kensington as Montgomery County Council officials approved continued talks between the county's library system and the foundation aiming to keep the building open this year.

The Noyes Library for Young Children was scheduled to close in July as part of cuts outlined in County Executive Isiah Leggett's fiscal 2011 budget until the Noyes Children's Library Foundation offered to support the library financially for the next two years.

The proposal was to close the early literacy center until renovations could be undertaken at the building, which reportedly does not meet ADA requirements.

Under the new agreement — expected to be finalized Thursday between Montgomery County Public Library administrators and members of the foundation — the foundation will give the county $140,000 over the next two years to support library operations.

Foundation representatives told members of a County Council committee Tuesday that they have raised almost $45,000, an amount that seemed to install confidence in committee members reviewing the agreement and the group's fundraising progress.

"It's nice when we develop a new community partnership and when we see a community is willing to put its money where its mouth is," said Councilman George Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park.

Sheila Dinn, co-president of the foundation said before the hearing that although her group is receiving regular donations, it's still long from finished soliciting money.

"I just keep telling people that we can't think it is over, because it's not," she said.

aruoff@gazette.net