Hedgesville to break ground on public library project

Officials hope to have the first floor of the new building ready to be occupied sometime next year, Tanksley said.

Private donations have financed the cost of the initial work, and Tanksley said the contractor has agreed to give the library additional time to raise more money.

"I need big wallets to open," Tanksley said.

Library officials hope that as the building takes shape, the community will see that the project is becoming a reality and contribute toward its completion, Tanksley said.

The public library, one of four in Berkeley County, currently is housed in Naylor Hall, a structure that is not handicapped-accessible, Tanksley said.

Children programs have been held off-site, and a dedicated friends of the library group has paid the cost for that arrangement, Tanksley said.

The new library will eliminate the space crunch at Naylor Hall, which also houses municipal offices and town meetings.

Hedgesville Mayor Mary S. Catlett said Friday she is glad that library officials were able to find a suitable location in town.

"They've been a good friend to the town," said Catlett, describing the library as an asset to the community of 318 residents as well as the outlying areas around Hedgesville.

The relocation of the library also is expected to free up space for town offices and the town museum, Catlett said.

On Tuesday, a joint meeting of the town's planning commission and zoning appeals board is expected to consider the library's request for a special exception to allow the library to be built on a residential street and a request for a variance to building setback requirements, Catlett said.

Catlett said she doesn't expect any opposition to the requests.

 For more information on the library's capital campaign, go to www.berkeleycountylibrary.org.