Construction on Onset's Spinney Memorial Library, which began in February, is roughly 95-percent complete, and the library will likely open for programming early next year.

"It's fabulous," said Kathy Gleason, president of the Friends of the Wareham Free Library, which raised about $600,000 and acquired $100,000 in Community Preservation funding to add on to and rehabilitate the Spinney building. "I think all of the residents, not only of Onset, but of Wareham, are going to be proud of this building."

Minor adjustments need to be made inside the building, and landscaping still needs to be completed, said Priscilla Porter, chairman of the Friends' Spinney Library Building Committee. The Friends will continue fundraising throughout the winner for outdoor improvements.

Located at 259 Onset Ave. in the heart of Onset Village, the original Spinney Library was built in the late 1800s. It functioned as a library until the 1940s, and was subsequently used as a meeting place for the Wareham Girl Scouts. The Friends acquired the building in 2005.

Though the project was scaled down from original plans, members of the Friends said they're pleased with how the 1,900-square-foot building turned out. The outside of the building now features a ramp, making it wheelchair-accessible. Inside, a meeting room and kitchen area occupies the space of the original structure, while an addition off the left side includes the main room with the circulation desk and shelving, as well as a separate room for an office.

"Sometimes things work out of the best," said Priscilla Porter, chairman of the Building Committee for the Friends. "I think we wound up with the perfect building for the village."

The main room will feature laptop computers and wireless Internet, as well as a reading area for children. The Friends have some books to stock the shelves, but are planning to operate a book exchange, so patrons can bring in used books to add to the Spinney's collection, and then check-out others.

The library will be staffed completely by volunteers, though the Friends hope that the town will eventually accept it as a branch of the Wareham Free Library, Porter said.

A Spinney Memorial Library open house will be held in mid-December, with the library officially opening after the holiday season, Porter said. Anyone interested in volunteering at the Spinney can attend an orientation and information session at Salerno's Function Hall on Sunday, November 28 at 3 p.m.

Check out the slideshow below for a tour of the Spinney Memorial Library!