REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.- After months of discussion on what to do with the downtown Rehoboth Beach Library, there seems to be an answer.
The Rehoboth Beach Library Task Force has chosen the option of using the area currently used for the entrance and lobby as the future location of the library- and the area near Summer House for a yet to be determined purpose.
This plan would use around 7,500Â feet of the 11,400 feet that the library currently uses. This scaled down library would still be fully functioning and have all the additions you would expect to see at a library.
The library's board president, Kay Wheatley, says there were numerous reasons for this decision.
"It allows the most space for downtown, but still reserve space or other uses, It allows us to still have access to the upstairs," she said. "What the task force has done since meetings they've had since May and June and into July is to determine and give the board an idea of what they and the residents would like to see in the library."
There is a brand new library currently in the works to be built outside of the city by Warrington Road and Route 24. That library is still in very early stages. Wheatley says adding another location will allow more services to be spread out to serve more people as the population in the area grows.
The road block currently in the way is the west side of the library by Summer House was donated to the library by the city and has a deed stating a library must go there. Wheatley is looking to switch that deed to the other lot where the lobby and upstairs currently are.
Wheatley said it is not clear what could replace the vacant area if this plan is approved, though she did say there are hopes to add something complimentary to the library such as an educational program.
This is not finalized yet, as the plan still formally needs to go in front of city commissioners.
The estimated cost of the downtown renovation is between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000.