The Honey Brook Community Library will nearly double in size thanks to a $1.14 million grant that it received through the Department of Community and Economic Development. The grant was presented to the library by state Sen. Katie Muth on Oct. 12.

In addition to library staff members and community members, participants in the grant presentation ceremony were Jennifer Spade, library director; Rocky Avvento, president of the library Board of Trustees; and Joe Sherwood, executive director of the Chester County Library System.

"I met with Rocky and Jennifer, and we talked about how much more this library could give the community if adequate space was available," said Muth, who holds monthly office hours at the library. "They presented a building program report that was prepared in February of 2019 deeming that the current square footage of the building was insufficient to serve the constituency effectively and deliver the over 275 programs that the library has to offer."

"This grant will nearly double the size of the library," she continued. "It will add more programming space, more community space, improve ventilation and do so much more than we ever thought possible."

One of Muth's first acts as state senator was to attend a library fundraiser, which is when she became acquainted with library staff members and the need for additional space. "She came to our Beef and Brew in April, and she explained that they get discretionary money to infuse in the community where needed and I put her in contact with our board members that evening," Spade explained. After a series of applications, the library learned that the grant was approved.

The project is expected to be conducted in three phases, which are scheduled to be completed by early 2024.

The first phase of the project includes the construction of a new community center and a remodel of the main library infrastructure, exterior and parking lot. The second phase entails the construction of a new children and young adults' area. The final phase includes the construction of a new adult reading area.

"We need to finalize plans with our architect, who will then finalize plans with an engineer and then put (the job) out for bids and get the necessary permits," said Spade, noting that the library's capital campaign will continue. "The grant we got is for true building costs. We will need money (for) tables, chairs and shelves."

Spade said that when the capital campaign started in 2019 it was just a concept and a plan on paper. "For the first time, it feels real," she said. "I am so excited to tell our patrons who have supported us."

The Honey Brook Community Library is located at 687 Compass Road, Honey Brook. For more information, visit http://www.honeybrooklibrary.org.