Construction on the new two-story addition to the West Nyack Free Library began last week with an official ground breaking on Wednesday.

The $800,000 job calls for a 6,000 square-foot addition to the library as well as renovations to the existing building.

The addition will include expanded children's facilities, a revamping of the existing space for reference, adult fiction and non-fiction. It also call for a local history room, public access terminals and study and quite reading areas.

The lower entry level will included a work area and community room.

Architect Michael Esmay of Upper Nyack is designing the project, said Lorette M. Adams, president of the board.

Montana Contracting has been hired to serve as construction managers of the project, which is expected to take six months, said Joe Montanan, principal.