KENNEBUNKPORT — The Board of Trustees of the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library is planning an expansion and renovation. To fund the project, in June the trustees launched a $1 million capital campaign.

The Mothers Wing Capital Campaign, named in honor of all mothers who have used the library’s services over the past century to encourage children to read, will pay for a new wing to the existing library – the Mothers Wing.

The new wing will provide much-needed space for collections and programs, an elevator to ensure access for the disabled, and updates to the library’s aged infrastructure.

The Graves library has served as an educational, social and cultural center of town for over a century; yet it has been over 30 years since the library has sought community support for a capital campaign. In a digital era when traditional organizations are struggling to find relevance, the use of the Graves library has grown dramatically.

The library offers more than 400 programs for people of all ages, and serves as a meeting place for many civic groups and non-profit organizations.

Recognizing that the library is a signature structure, the trustees focused on maintaining the quality and integrity of the historic building. The design of the Mothers Wing and the materials used to build the structure will be compatible with the original building.

The library will celebrate the Mothers Wing Capital Campaign on today with the reopening of the library’s historic front door, which was closed many years ago to accommodate bookshelves for an audiobook collection. There will be an open house from 5-7 p.m. at the library, 18 Maine St., Kennebunkport. Light refreshments will be served.