The New Miller Branch Library and Historical Center

Where can you grow the ingredients to make a pizza? Watch the sun set from a rooftop garden? Oh, and check out a book the moment it's been returned? 

The new Chales E. Miller Branch Library and Historical Center is set to open Dec. 17 and, yes, there are books.

Lots and lots of books.

But there is much more, including what may be the first of its kind in the country -- the Enchanted Garden, an outdoor classroom with 65 native species where kids and adults can grow food, learn about nutrition, compost or relax. 

"We want it to be a whimsical, fantastic experience," said Valarie Gross, CEO of the Howard County Library System.

In addition to the library and the Garden, 3,000 feet of the  63,000 square foot building is dedicated to a historical center, the new home of the Howard County Historical Society and other historical groups in the area. 

The $29 million project -- which came in $1 million under budget and was completed on time -- sparkles with modern features including milky-white self-chechout stands where patrons can check out books without waiting in line. 

"What if I happens if I have a fine," County Council Chairwoman Mary Kay Sigaty asked during a tour of the building last week. 

"A red light comes on," Councilman Calvin Ball quipped.

Conveniently, according to Angela Brade, library COO, the machines take credit cards. Meanwhile, patrons can return books in a high-tech drop-box, which instantly scans books so that they can be instantly available. 

Additional touches include 100 public access computers; glass that dims without the use of blinds; and a trail of lights that lead children to the classroom.

There is also a 3,000 square foot meeting room that can be partitioned into three smaller rooms to be used for library and public events, even after library hours. 

The building is also LEED certified, an internationally recognized certification for sustainable and efficient "green" buildings.

To that end, the Miller Branch Library includes the following features aimed at conserving energy and water while also teaching patrons about these green technologies:

• 72 Solar panels. Patrons can see how much electricity is being produced on a monitor in the lobby
• Recycled local materials, water conservation features and energy efficient HVAC and lighting
• "Green roof" covered with perennials that both insulate the building in the winter and help keep the roof cooler in the summer, helping to save on heating and air conditioning use
• LED lights which use significantly less electricity than 200-watt bulbs
• Conservation of the nearby stream ecosystem

The new Miller Branch Library and Historical Center is scheduled to open this Saturday, Dec. 17. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 10 a.m.