The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library is undergoing some major renovations.

The original historic Greek Revival facade is still intact, but the rear of the building has been torn down, and framework for the new structure is in place.

Randy Leclair of Frohmiller Construction out of Bath, was at the site on Friday, Dec. 20. “The whole street level should be done and covered over by next Wednesday (Christmas Day),” he said. The construction crew, who have been working every day, said they were hoping to have the first floor covered over before any more snow falls, mainly because of the extra time that has to be spent shoveling and cleaning up before construction can continue.

According to Library Director Tim McFadden, the new section will extend out an extra 14 feet into the parking lot, but that won't affect parking. “We won't be losing parking spaces,” he said.

McFadden said that when complete, patrons who enter the library through the entrance adjacent to the parking lot will enter through a glass atrium area.

A priority in the initial planning of the renovation was that the building and facilities be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. McFadden said that there will be a public ADA bathroom, and that he has just finished writing a grant for funding for an elevator. “We want to provide an elevator, at least partially through grants,” he said.

There are also plans for a capital campaign to cover the costs of the renovation. McFadden said that the renovation will be paid in full by private donations. “We've raised over $200,000 so far,” he said. “We're very grateful to the people who have donated and will be grateful to those who will support us in the future.”

Another major consideration was to include a “tween area” for kids of a certain age, not children and not adults. McFadden said that that age group will have their own space, one that will meet technological needs and provide computers. There will be stacks (bookshelves) with young adult literature, and it will be decorated with a young adult theme. “It will be good for kids to have access to a space like that,” he said.

McFadden said that he hopes the new area will allow for more programming in the future. The second floor of the new section will have more stack areas, a lounge and a community meeting room that will be open for groups to reserve for meetings and special events, or programs.

There are also plans, contingent on raising enough funds, for a “Smart Board.” According to McFadden, this is an interactive white screen that is connected to a computer and displays a computer's page. The screen also acts as a touchscreen. “They're used now in many classrooms,” McFadden said. “It will be a great educational tool for programs and classes the library will plan for the public.”

The old Children's Room, added 37 years ago in 1976, was the last big change for the library. Mary Pinkham has been the children's librarian for 25 years. “I'm excited, though I was a little less excited when I drove by and saw that the old (Children’s Room) was gone,” she said. “I knew they were going to take the roof off, but it took my breath away. It tore my heart out a little.”

But there's a silver lining: “We're going to have air conditioning,” she said. “When I heard that I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. That's like a dream.”

McFadden said the library will not be hiring more employees. He said the staff of four, along with the volunteers, should be sufficient to carry the load. And he said that the library appreciates the volunteers. “We don't look for them. They come to us and we couldn't operate without them.”

The new library should be complete by mid-May.

In the interim you can still check out books or use one of the three Macintosh computers in the library's temporary location at the Meadow Mall, next to the House of Pizza.

Related: Library changes are coming