Delaware prepares for another state-of-the-art library

New Castle County leaders along with state and community officials are getting closer and closer to turning their dream of a state-of-the-art library in Claymont into a reality.

Officials hosted a ground breaking ceremony for a 17,500 square foot library which will sit in the middle of town near the Darley Green Townhome community.  It may have been a tough path to get the project moving, but now that work is getting underway, leaders like New Castle County Executive Paul Clark are excited about the opportunities the facility will offer the community.

“It met all the requirements I wanted because I wanted to build libraries that are in a park like setting that were  adjacent to bus routes, that can help communities, who weren’t buried into them because I think that’s a better way of doing it, and I think we’re going to have people have a first rate library in Claymont, that’s long overdue,” said Clark.  The new library is expected to be completed by June 2013.

So far, New Castle County and the State of Delaware have authorized more than $8 million for the project.  However, more money is needed which is why the The Friends of the Claymont Public Library started a capital campaign to raise additional funds.  “The funding of this project, many people say how can you do something like this in an economy like this, some of it comes from the friends at the state, some of it comes from us and some of it comes from the Friends group which really does anchor that this community backs this thing with their own hard own dollars putting it up,” added Clark.  Overall, $9 million is needed to complete the project.

As for the existing Claymont library, it’s located inside the Claymont Community Center, which is considered to be too small and limited because of location.