Rehoboth library project secures full ARPA funding amount

After months of unknowns, the Rehoboth Beach Public Library has received the full amount of its funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Given the political environment, there were concerns, but as of June 30, all $3 million of the ARPA money was received, said Kay Wheatley, library board president.

The Rehoboth Beach Public Library’s service area has a population of about 16,000 people and encompasses 32 square miles – Dewey Beach to Rehoboth Beach to Route 24 to Angola. A little more than two years ago, in an effort to better serve the entire circulation area, the library announced plans to renovate the existing location and build a new library on Warrington Road off Route 24.

Soon after the announcement, a task force of library users was formed to help the library board ensure it addresses concerns and needs at the library right now. Ultimately, the task force reached a consensus about what a downtown renovation should include – a second restroom, more employee space, a smaller circulation desk, a retractable wall added to the second-floor meeting space, three small study rooms that each hold four people, and a larger meeting room that holds 16 people. This interior work would keep the library within the same footprint.

Earlier this year, the board announced it had hired Whiting & Turner as the construction manager overseeing both legs of the project.

Wheatley said the library received the first half of the $3 million, but couldn’t request the second half until the first half was spent. That money was spent on the preparation of final design and construction documents, and the ordering of new mechanical equipment for the building.

If the library didn’t receive all the funding, it would have changed the design of the project, said Wheatley. A lot of the other work includes upgrades to make the facility more useful for customers, she said.

“What the public wants from a library now is different than what it wanted 20 years ago,” said Wheatley.

Wheatley said the estimated cost of the project for the downtown location is $7.5 million to $8 million. In addition to the ARPA funds, the library has received $3 million in the state’s bond bill. The remaining portion will be acquired through fundraising.

The library will kick off a major campaign to raise the additional money soon, said Wheatley.

Looking forward, Wheatley said she’s expecting to call a task force meeting for mid-July to present the designs. By then, the board should have a good handle on how much money is needed, she said.

Previously, the library’s plan was to start construction this fall, with an eye toward completion next summer. That’s still the plan, said Wheatley.

The library has said all along it plans to remain open during construction. Wheatley said that’s also still the plan. However, she said, there could be a few short closures during the installation of utilities.