Northern Delaware library to close at the end of the month for lengthy renovation project

A new-and-improved New Castle County library branch in Bear is on the way in 2012 – but, the transformation will require months of renovations.

The Bear library at Routes 7 and 40 is scheduled to close this Saturday.  The book drop-off will be available until January 22nd.  The renovations include creating more space for the public, upgraded areas for meetings and for studying, and improvements in technology.  HVAC improvements are also expected to result in improved energy efficiency at the building, which opened in 1998.  The Bear library is one of the busiest in the county library system, with 425,555 visits and more than 636,000 loans of materials for the fiscal year that ended last June 30th.  The $5.7-million project is  being funded through New Castle County, the State of Delaware and Friends of the Bear Library.  While the library is closed, patrons may utilize other branches.  The nearest ones to Bear are in Newark, New Castle, and along Kirkwood Highway.