MORRISTOWN -- Almost a decade after they first began planning, officials of the Morristown & Morris Township Library and town officials last week gathered to put the first shovels in the ground for a major expansion and renovation project known as the “New Edition.”

The $8 million project includes construction of a three-level addition and extensive restructuring of other parts of the library. Completion is expected to take 18 months.

Scott Rosenbush, Morris Township mayor and John “Jay” DeLaney, Morristown mayor, hailed the expansion, which they said will ease the current space crunch, and praised the work of the library staff and volunteers who raised much of the capital. Their work, DeLaney said, is a prime example of public/private cooperation.

Funding came from a cross-section of governmental and private sources -- the governing bodies of the town and the township, the State of New Jersey, corporations and businesses, foundations and more than 800 patrons and residents. Donations from individuals ranged from coins contributed by school children to $650,000 from generous supporters.

The capital campaign, under general chairman Paula Gottesman, will continue to seek funds for furniture and furnishings which are expected to cost between $500,000 and $600,000.

Susan Gulick, library director, noted that the expansion has long been in the planning -- long enough that an associate architect earned her license, became engaged and married. She brought her baby to the ceremonies.

Gulick thanked the many people who had contributed their time, their skills and talents to making the groundbreaking a reality – from her own staff members to the Friends of the Library who contributed funds from their book sales.

The New Edition project was designed by architect Robert Russell of the Princeton firm of Holt, Morgan and Russell. General contractor is the Gale Construction Company of Florham Park.

It entails construction of a three-level 13,800 square foot addition to the building on South Street and Miller Road. The project will triple the size of the Children’s Room, create a Young Adult’s Room, media center and gallery, expand the Local History and Genealogy Department, add computers and space for reading areas and increase parking spaces.

During construction, stores located at 83 South Street, -- the 1830 building owned by the Morristown & Morris Township Library Foundation – a not-for-profit organization that provides support for the library – will continue business as usual.

But parking lots at the rear of the building, as well as the library parking spaces, will be closed. Store and library patrons are asked instead to park in metered spaces in the area. According to library officials, there are 251 meters within a two-block area.

For more information on the campaign and the project, call Molly Dunn, capital campaign coordinator, at 973-538-6161.