Georgetown, Del., Nov. 13, 2007: An effort to expand the popular South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach is about to go from concept to construction.

Sussex County Council on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, approved Nason Construction of Salisbury, Md., as the winning bidder for the expansion project. Nason Construction’s winning bid of $4.2 million was selected as the lowest among eight proposals the County received.

Construction is expected to begin by early 2008, and wrap up in early 2009. For the construction period, the library has relocated to a temporary facility at Creekside Plaza, 203 Atlantic Avenue, Suites 9 &10, in Millville.

The multi-million-dollar expansion, once completed, will more than double the size of the current 10,000-square-foot building on Kent Avenue in Bethany Beach. The expansion will give the 12-year-old facility more room for its growing collection – now at more than 44,000 items -- and add much-needed space for meetings and cultural events.

The expansion also will allow library staff to add computers and improve other amenities at the facility. Funding for the overall design and construction project will total a little more than $6 million, with $3 million of the funding coming from the State, $1.5 million from Sussex County government and up to $2 million from the Friends of the South Coastal Library group.