Manor View Elementary Gets A Library Makeover

Target Corp. and Heart of America Foundation perform major makeover of school library at Fort Meade.

By Tim Lemke

The students at Manor View Elementary School at Fort Meade were patient. Occasionally over the last month, a curious student would peek behind sheets of plastic wrap to see what was going on. But to most, the unveiling of a newly renovated library Thursday was a delightful surprise.

Manor View was the beneficiary of a new library makeover, courtesy of Target Corp. and the Heart of America Foundation. Students, teachers and base officials were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new carpeting, shelving, lighting and technology. The library upgrade came with new electronic whiteboards, new furniture, wall murals and the construction of special reading corners.

“I’m amazed, honored, ecstatic and excited,” said Manor View assistant principal Ginger Robertson. “I can’t think of a better example of how the community can really come together and intertwine with public education to promote literacy and reading.”

Target chose Veterans Day to unveil the new library because nearly all the students at the school belong to military families.

“The challenges and the weight that these kids pull by being the children of military parents is tough,” Col. Daniel Thomas, installation commander at Fort Meade, said to volunteers. “By you coming in and doing this is so important and means so much.”

As part of the makeover, the library received 2,000 new books, and each of the 605 students at the school received seven new books to take home. Target also partnered with HGTV designer Sabrina Soto on upgrading the library’s literary support room.

Guests at the unveiling included  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Anne Arundel County Schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell and members of the school board.

“I would have loved to have gone to a library like this growing up,” Duncan said. “Mine wasn’t quite this fancy. But to have this kind of space…where students can relax, be creative and use their imagination.”

The library renovation was part of a nationwide effort by Target that has included 32 schools and more than $7 million in donations. Each renovation costs about $200,000.

 

Video:

http://odenton.patch.com/articles/video-new-library-at-manor-view-elementary#video-3060580

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