Around AACC: Week of May 9

Library Renovation Celebration

Anne Arundel Community College President Martha A. Smith, and Truxal Library Director Cindy Steinhoff recently led a daylong event celebrating the $21.9 million Andrew G. Truxal Library renovation and addition project.

The event included the unveiling of a library memorabilia exhibit, including many memories about the 44-year-old facility. The exhibit is on display until July, when the building’s second and third floors will close for the project.

The renovation will include the construction of a 31,330 gross square foot addition. The project is expected to be completed in August of 2012, in time for fall classes next year.

The first-floor student services offices were relocated in March to Annex A, Annex B and the Careers Center Building on campus. In July, the college will move the library’s collection of more than 140,000 books, more than 200 periodicals and an audiovisual collection of about 10,000 items plus library staff, furniture and equipment to a large modular building on the tennis courts.

“A project of this scope and importance, as I’m sure you can imagine, takes vision, dedication and a lot of hard work,” Smith told the crowd.

“We’re calling this a transition to a 21st century library,” Steinhoff said. “Other than a small renovation project in the 1980s, this building looks and operates as it did when it opened in 1967.”

The library serves more than 200,000 students and community members annually. For information on the library project, visit www.aacc.edu/library/renovation.

AACC Commencement

AACC Commencement will be held on Thursday, May 26, at 7 p.m. The commencement speaker will be Nancy Grasmick, current Maryland State Superintendent of Schools who will be retiring this summer. The event will be simulcast on cable TV Comcast and Millenium channels 95 and Verizon FIOS Channel 35 in Anne Arundel County. For more information, call 410-777-AACC.

Civil War Round Table

Bill Hewitt leads a discussion on Gettysburg as part of the Chesapeake Civil War Round Table on Thursday, May 12, from 7 – 9 p.m. This free event will be held in the Cade Center for Fine Arts, Room 219, on the AACC Arnold campus. For more information, call 410-777-2428.

Maryland, My Maryland

The AACC Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, led by Marc F. Boensel, AACC part-time music faculty, will perform a concert titled “Maryland, My Maryland” on Friday, May 13, 8 p.m. in the Pascal Center for the Performing Arts. The program features music written by Maryland composers and music about Maryland itself. Tickets are $10 general admission; $7 students, AACC faculty and staff, senior citizens and groups; $5 students with valid AACC student ID. For more information, call the box office at 410-777-2457 or e-mail boxoffice@aacc.edu.

Swing into Spring

Under the direction of Marty Knepp and Ray Ascione, the AACC Jazz Ensemble will “Swing into Spring” on Saturday, May 14 at 8 p.m. in the Pascal Center for the Performing Arts. The concert features big band favorites. Tickets are $10 general admission; $7 students, AACC faculty and staff, senior citizens and groups; and $5 students with valid AACC student ID. To purchase tickets, contact the box office at 410-777-2457 or e-mail boxoffice@aacc.edu.

Lacrosse Champs

Congratulations to the AACC Pioneers women lacrosse team who defeated Catonsville yesterday to become the region/district champions. They also qualified to be in the national championship game in New York next weekend!