The West Tisbury Library Foundation, Inc. announced this week that it had surpassed an important milestone in its capital campaign: the state requirement of raising $902,000 in private matching funds by Jan. 31. “We’re pleased that our campaign so far has received more than $1.3 million in private donations,” said Hunter Moorman, chair of the foundation. He added, however, the campaign must still meet the town’s fund-raising goal as well.

“Part of the understanding between the library and West Tisbury has always been that the library would contribute no less than $1.5 million, or 25 per cent of the project cost, raised through private donations,” said Mr. Moorman. “Only then would the library trustees come to the town, in April of 2012, to ask for the town’s share of 25 per cent.” The foundation believes it can raise the remaining $200,000 before the spring town meeting.

In July of 2011, the West Tisbury Free Public Library learned that it was one of only eight libraries in Massachusetts to receive a state construction grant that would pay about 50 per cent of the cost of a much-needed renovation and expansion. Since then, the library foundation has been conducting a grass roots capital campaign.

Seed money for the library project came from a building fund originally amassed over the years by the Friends of the West Tisbury Library, Inc., who are leaving the capital campaign in the hands of the foundation. A building committee appointed by the selectmen has been working to design the project with a team of architects, guided by frequent public forums and focus groups to gather community input.

If the town approves its share of the funding, groundbreaking is scheduled for fall of 2012, with the library re-opening in fall or winter of 2013. During construction, the library will operate from temporary quarters.