The purchase of land for a future expansion of the LE Shore Library in Thornbury has approval from The Blue Mountains council.
The town is spending 245 thousand dollars.
The owner of the property immediately to the south of the library passed away, recently, and representatives of her estate have offered the land to the town.
Councillor Michael Martin — a member of the library board — says the time was right to purchase the land.
He notes a recent study shows the library will need to expand in the near future, and would probably need more parking to accommodate expanded use.
No specific expansion plans are in the works, yet.
The report says the family have offered to sell the property to the town for 240 thousand dollars.
Legal fees and taxes would add about 4 thousand to the total price.
Councillor Bob Gamble expressed concerns that an expansion might detract from the library’s award-winning design.
Martin says the original architects would be consulted to ensure any addition fits in with their design.
Council approved the purchase, with funding to come from a reserve fund from charges on new development.