Yarmouth’s Merrill Memorial Library has successfully completed a yearlong $1 million fundraising campaign to support the renovation and expansion of the library.

The money raised from the community is being combined with $1.5 million from a bond issue that Yarmouth voters approved overwhelmingly last June.

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The renovation of Merrill Memorial Library in Yarmouth is underway, and the library has finished its yearlong fundraising campaign. Courtesy Merrill Memorial Library/Steven Johnson

The renovation of Merrill Memorial Library in Yarmouth will open the third floor turn-of-the century space for programming and public use. Courtesy Merrill Memorial Library/Steven Johnson

Gro Flatebo, who led the fundraising campaign, said in a written announcement this week that the project will allow the 108-year-old library to meet the changing needs of the community.

The renovations will create a new entrance way where people can gather, public programming space, tutoring space, and a quiet reading room. The project also will bring the building up to modern building codes by replacing original knob and tube wiring, installing a sprinkler system, and building new bathrooms. Construction is under way and is scheduled to be finished by October 2014.

Meanwhile, the library is operating in a temporary location at 65 Forest Falls Drive in the Cascon Pump Co. building.

Heidi Grimm, library director, said the campaign’s success shows the strength of the community’s support for the library. Over 600 families donated to the project with gifts ranging from $9 to $100,000. The business community donated over $110,000 and private foundations contributed over $110,000.

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