REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - For the past few months, the Rehoboth Beach Library has been working on the project to expand to Route 24 and lease half of the current building. When the announcement about the second location was first released, the library says many misinterpreted the message, and thought the library was closing its downtown location. The library wants to once again clarify that the downtown Rehoboth location is not moving, just downsizing. According to the library, after reviewing surveys from the public, many said that traffic and parking made it difficult for them to access the library, especially in the Summer, which is why the decision was made to expand to Route 24. At this time, the library is currently waiting to modify a deed with the city of Rehoboth Beach.
Kay Wheatley, a member of the Rehoboth Beach Library Task Force, explained to CoastTV that the deed needs to be changed since the library is only looking to use the entrance where the lobby is now for library services.
"Because we want to retain this library part for library services, we just need to flip flop the lot numbers from 74 to 72 so that we're still in compliance with the agreement," explained Kay.
Wheatley says the deed is currently being rewritten by an attorney, and will hopefully be presented to the city officials in December. Wheatley says both locations will have similar amenities, like a quiet spaces, various book and dvd genres, and more.
Some people are sad to see the library split its location into two.
"I'm really going to miss all of the books being in one location," said Susan Onsih, who lives in Rehoboth Beach.
Others who spoke with CoastTV are totally fine with the second location.
"Just as long as there's internet and a place to read, I'm totally fine with the change," explained Thurlow Cunliffe, a frequent visitor to the Rehoboth Beach Library.
The Rehoboth Beach Library says it hopes the two locations will allow for library services to be more accessible to the community.
Previous stories covered about the Rehoboth Beach library Project: