PRETLOW BRANCH LIBRARY TO RE-OPEN IN ITS TEMPORARY LOCATION AS THE CITY PREPARES FOR NEW ANCHOR BRANCH

Norfolk, VA (March 24, 2005) –On Friday, April 1 Pretlow Branch Library will reopen in its temporary location at 120 Balview Avenue, just one block for the library’s old home on Granby Street. To familiarize residents with the library’s temporary home, the Library will host an Open House on Wednesday, April 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

As library employees prepare for this re-opening, there is a sense of excitement in the air. For this re-opening signals more than the fact that the library is preparing for construction of a new state of the art Anchor Branch to replace the old Granby Street building this fall. It also signals the beginning of city plans to breathe new life into the Norfolk Public Library system. In addition to the construction of the Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch, a second anchor branch is planned for the Broad Creek community. City leaders are also beginning to look at the possibilities for a new main library downtown.

Pretlow Branch Library will remain in the temporary location for about two years while the new Anchor Branch is built. The temporary location will allow full library service to continue in the Ocean View area throughout construction. After April 1, the library will resume its normal hours of operation, programming, and computer availability.

For this information, contact Tia Freeman at 664-7338 or visit http://www.npl.lib.va.us/pretlow/pretlow_album.html.