Catonsville Library’s $7M Renovation: A Community Transformation

The Catonsville Library has recently undergone a $7 million renovation. It has transformed from a local hub for borrowing books into a home to multiple state-of-the-art recording studios. It was originally built in 1963, and its purpose has shifted over time. Like most libraries, it started as a place to hold books — a hub of public knowledge freely accessible to anyone.

Interior view of a history room at the Catonsville Library featuring glass display cases with historical documents and images, framed paintings on the wooden walls, and a modern floor design.

With the invention of the internet, fewer and fewer people are reading books. This past year, only about 50% of adults in the United States read a book, compared to 1980, when that number was 86%. People have shifted to consuming more palatable online media rather than sitting down to read. Even though book sales are in decline, libraries across the country haven’t fallen into obscurity. Their purpose has shifted to a more community-centered approach.

Three modern self-checkout kiosks in a library against a turquoise wall, designed for user convenience.

Most libraries have computers with internet access that anyone can use. The Catonsville Library hosts weekend events and clubs, such as chess, that meet on weeknights. It has installed multiple rooms that mute noise so kids can hang out there after school, along with a life-size chess set, a foosball table, and an air hockey table. It also added a history room that contains important documents and images relevant to the town’s history. All of this is an effort to foster community and keep libraries open. Its original purpose — to provide the public with free books — has taken a back seat to its new priority of being a community center.

While this all seems like a major upgrade, the library has quietly made changes in the background, away from the spotlight. When it remodeled, it actually downsized the number of books on its shelves. This process typically removes any books with outdated language, poor accuracy, or low circulation. While this is great for the average reader, it slowly erases the cultural history within the library’s collection. However, this is not an issue for the vast majority of Americans, who no longer check out books from the library.