SIDNEY — Officials ceremoniously broke ground Monday for an addition to the Amos Memorial Public Library in Sidney.

Even pouring rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of Shelby County Libraries Executive Director Suzanne Cline, who welcomed donors, supporters, staff and project contractors to the library art gallery.

“We are very, very excited,” she said. “This has been a long time coming. We couldn’t have done it without all the support.”

The project, budgeted at $4.85 million, includes a two-story, 10-956-square-foot expansion and renovation of the existing library building that was constructed in 1958. The library has contributed $2.5 from its reserve funds. The remainder will be provided by private and corporate donors.

Contributions are still being accepted and can be mailed payable to the Community Foundation of Shelby County, 100 S. Main, No. 202, Sidney, OH 45365, with “library” in the memo line.

Julia Frantz, president of the library board of trustees, promised that, when work is complete, “the grand opening will be a party and it will not be raining.”

Shelby County Commissioner Julie Ehemann noted that the addition will give area residents more resources access knowledge.

“I remember childhood memories … and the books I had read as a child. I think back now to how my daughter utilized the library system and I think of how much libraries have changed. Today’s expansion is directly a function of that change,” she said. Libraries are no longer just about the books.

“The library has always been a place for any person of any income level or age to access knowledge. But our libraries are more than just a place to access information. Our libraries are vibrant, active parts of our communities,” Ehemann said.

Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst recalled visiting the library when it was housed in the Monumental Building on the square and recounted fond memories of the bookmobile that brought books to him in rural Shelby County when he was a child.

“The bookmobile was my candy store,” he said. “Fast forward five decades to today. The library remains the candy store for those of us who like to read, the focal point of the community. More than 10,000 patrons visit the Amos Memorial Public Library every month. The current structure has served the public well since the mid-1950s, but has its limitations. The library’s expansion project focuses on technology, improved spaces for children, expanded areas for teens and increasing the size and comfort of all study, work and programming areas.”

He applauded that local companies have been contracted to do the work. Ferguson Construction Co. is the general contractor. Area Energy & Electric Inc. and Regal Plumbing & Heating Co. are subcontractors. krM Architecture, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is overseeing the design.

“Our community is important and the library is an important part of that community,” Cline said. “One challenge is to provide resources that other communities already have. We really have support from the community at all levels. We really appreciate it.”

The timeline calls for the project to be completed within 450 days. Cline noted that she may have to close sections of the library from time to time to accommodate construction. Such closings will be posted on the library’s website and Facebook pages, and notices will be sent to the radio station and newspaper.

“You can go to the branches (if Amos is closed),” Frantz said. Cline added that digital downloads are always available on the website.

Following the speeches, library officials and contractors posed for photographs inside and then, despite a light sprinkling of rain, posed for more photos in front of the area along Miami Avenue, where crews have been preparing the site for construction work.