Worcester County officials on Tuesday denied a $70,000 request to add a children’s porch to the new Pocomoke Library, now under construction.

Jennifer Ranck, director of Worcester County Libraries, said she would speak with the construction company to see if there are ways to cut costs.

The $70,000 request represents less than 1% of the total $8.4 million cost of the new 12,500-square-foot library, being built by Keller Brothers Construction Co. Worcester County has financed $4 million of that total. Crews broke ground in January, and substantial completion is projected for April 2026.

By comparison, the most recent Worcester County library, in Berlin, was built for $7.1 million in 2018, a figure that included furnishings.

According to a memo submitted to county officials, “Plans

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