The Village Library's expansion is expected to be complete by the end of November, and works from York City's 3 Amp Electric, including vice president Terry Doll, are doing their work now. The Jacobus library expanded into what was a dry cleaner's shop, and the additional space will be used to house a larger selection of books and more used books for sale. (Bil Bowden photo)

Village Library is a place to read, learn and expand.

The library, at 35-C N. Main St. in Jacobus, is undergoing an expansion project, adding 600 square feet to its current 2,200-square-foot facility, said Barry Attig, 78, president of Friends of Village Library.

"Everybody's excited about this project," said Attig. "It gives us more room to do what we need to do."

The library, situated in the Olde Village Square East Shopping Center, began renting an adjacent former dry-cleaning facility in March.

For the $40,000 renovation project, the wall between the library and the newly-rented building has been knocked down to make room for additional reading and activities areas, Attig said.

"There's going to be a reading area where we can display our new hardback fiction and nonfiction books," he said. "We'll have a meeting place for groups, a place for children's story hour and the crafts they do."

Friends of Village Library raised the money -- including donations from the community -- to pay for the project.

The project is being done by Kinsley Construction Co., a local electrician and several members of Friends of Village Library, Attig said.

Timetable: The project started about three weeks ago and is expected to be completed by Nov. 15, he said.

In the meantime, the library is still operating its regular hours, though visitors are being kept from the construction area.

The library, which started in 1981, serves more than 60,000 visitors, including more than 3,400 people who participate in the library programs, according to the library's website at www.yorklibraries.org/village.

Close to 400 children attend the library's Summer Reading Club.

"I was a teacher, so I know the value of reading and education," Attig said. "The library offers that. It is a neat place for people to go to."

--Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmilla n@yorkdispatch.com.