SOUTH DEERFIELD — With a late-arriving elevator, Tilton Library’s expected completion date has been moved to August.

Originally with an estimated finish date of June or early July, construction on Tilton Library’s expansion has been rolling along, but the elevator, arriving in pieces from China, has shifted the expected opening back a month or so, according to Library Director Candace Bradbury-Carlin, who added the project has been coming together incredibly well.

“There’s not an [exact] date. It all hinges on the elevator, of course, because everything else is pretty much ready,” Bradbury-Carlin said, adding its installation and inspection process is expected to take three to four weeks. “Construction has been going very smooth. I’ve been going in there more often recently … Every part of the library, old, new, upstairs, downstairs, it’s beautiful.”

The library’s expansion will nearly triple its square footage from 4,366 to 12,784 square feet. Key improvements include expanded teen and children’s rooms, meeting and co-working spaces on the second floor and a “nighttime suite” that will be accessible after normal library hours and feature meeting spaces, a small kitchen and bathrooms.

Northampton-based D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc. is handling construction, having submitted a $10.99 million bid for what was presented to residents as a $12.3 million project. The expansion is funded by $5.785 million in town funds, a nearly $4 million Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners grant, $471,000 in state aid, a $100,000 reimbursement for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. A $2 million capital campaign from the library will cover the rest of the costs.

Bradbury-Carlin said D.A. Sullivan & Sons and project manager P-Three Inc. have also saved enough money on construction to add a canopy to the front of the expansion, which will provide an additional outdoor space for people to meet, collect curbside pickup orders or host programs.

“They’re both really mindful of that,” Bradbury-Carlin said of the contractors saving money. “They work really well together.”

Once construction is complete and the library migrates from its temporary home in the South Deerfield Congregational Church, Bradbury-Carlin said Tilton Library will close for a brief period, as it will take “about three to four weeks to unpack.” During the time the library is closed, patrons are invited to visit libraries in Sunderland, Whately, Greenfield or Hatfield, much like they did when Tilton Library was closed when it first moved to its temporary location.

Fundraising update

As construction continues, the library has raised $1.3 million of its $2 million fundraising goal, and Bradbury-Carlin said whatever money raised will be given to Deerfield on Oct. 15, when the town goes to bond. From there, she said the library will then have until October 2026 to complete the final payment to the town.

In the meantime, the library is continuing its fundraising push with the Spring Fling, which ends on May 31. The Spring Fling, with the help of an anonymous donor, will match up to $25,000 in donations to the Tilton Library Expansion Capital Campaign. On top of fundraising efforts, the library is also applying to grants to purchase solar panels.

While the shadow of a difficult economic time looms over the region, Bradbury-Carlin said she is optimistic Tilton Library will meet its $2 million goal, especially once the building is open and people can see the amenities offered.

“We’re in the most challenging time. It’s not only a hard economy, but it’s a confusing one,” she said. “We’re being patient and trying to work with whatever people feel comfortable with.”

For more information about Tilton Library and its expansion project, visit tiltonlibrary.org.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.