Georgetown, Del., March 20, 2007: Visitors to Sussex County’s resorts know that the beach is always a great place to read. Now Sussex County has plans to make it an even better reading spot for residents and visitors alike, with a multimillion-dollar expansion of the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach.
Sussex County engineers today updated County Council members on a $6.5 million project to more than double the size of the library to ease space limitations and meet increased demand.
Sussex County will expand the 10,000-square-foot South Coastal Library beginning later this year, adding 11,500 square feet to the 12-year-old building on Kent Avenue. That would give the facility more room for its growing collection – now at more than 44,000 items -- and adding much-needed meeting space.
The expansion also would allow the library staff to add computers and improve other amenities at the facility, which served 128,600 patrons last year. Funding for the project will come from a variety of sources. The State of Delaware will fund $3 million of the cost; Sussex County government will contribute $1.5 million; and the Friends of the South Coastal Library have pledged $2 million in support.
“This is a great example of the State, County and the local community working together,” said County Engineer Michael Izzo. “However, the Friends are still working toward their goal of $2 million, so it’s important that the community be aware of this project and lend the support needed to make it a reality.”
Usage at the library, one of three owned and managed by Sussex County, is growing at a rapid pace, said Carol Fitzgerald, director of Sussex County’s Department of Libraries. In fiscal year 2001, circulation at South Coastal Library was at approximately 107,000; in fiscal year 2006, that number swelled to nearly 142, 000, an increase of 32 percent.
Meantime, the number of programs offered at South Coastal has increased from 394, with 8,738 guests in attendance, in 2001 to 534 programs, with 11,712 guests attending, last year. Programs range from pre-school story times and teen improvisational theater to foreign film presentations and reading/discussion groups.
Ms. Fitzgerald said it’s incredible to believe the library, which began in the 1970s in a singe-wide mobile home, has grown to be such a popular attraction.
“We have outgrown our space. It’s as simple as that,” Ms. Fitzgerald said. “This expansion will help us meet the growing needs of the community, which is something we’re always looking to do with our collection and our programs. Now we will have the space to accommodate the growth in our services.”
The project is currently nearing the end of the design phase, and should be ready for bidding in June, Mr. Izzo said. Site work is expected to begin late this year, with construction complete by the end of 2008.