After being closed for renovations for nearly a year, the Aquinnah Public Library is set to reopen sometime next month, the town selectmen said at their regular meeting this week.

Selectmen announced on Tuesday that the library renovation project is nearly finished, although several months past the original projected completion date.

Planning for the project began in August of 2008, when it was discovered that the library, located in the former Aquinnah schoolhouse building, had a failed floor. The Massachusetts Historic Commission provided a grant of $50,000, and the town borrowed an additional $50,000 to cover renovation costs. Construction began last November, and was expected to be completed within two months.

Selectman Camille Rose said this week that the delay was due to a number of factors, including inadequate project supervision and adjustments to the original renovation plans. She added that the project may go over the $100,000 budget, but not by much. “[The project] exceeded the scope of what we originally applied for,” she said.

Temporary library space set up in the old town hall holds approximately 35 per cent of the entire library collection. The temporary space is set to close Sept. 15, so books can be moved back into the renovated space across the street.

On Tuesday the selectmen discussed whether to hire movers to complete the task or to reach out to the community for volunteers. In the end they agreed to pursue a combination of the two options. The board has since obtained permission from the Dukes County sheriff’s department to use jail inmates to assist with the move, and will continue to solicit additional volunteer work. If necessary, the board will hire contractor Trip Barnes to complete the moving process.

Selectmen also decided to purchase custom shelving units to replace the former wooden bookshelves used in the library. The new units will eliminate a potential safety hazard stemming from the sharp edges of the wooden shelves, and will meet height requirements set by the state building code.

In other news, the selectmen appointed Darren McCourt as interim town assessor, replacing Hugh Taylor, until the annual town election in May of 2010.

And the board accepted officer James Neville’s letter of resignation from the Aquinnah police department. Mr. Neville, a former employee with sheriff’s department, has been on the Aquinnah force for close to a year. “We have a wonderful police force, but [Officer Neville has] been particularly nice,” said Ms. Rose, requesting that he be sent a letter on behalf of the town thanking him for his service. Mr. Neville has taken a job with the West Tisbury police department.