SOUTH DEERFIELD — Library patrons won’t have to go far when Tilton Library moves into its temporary space this winter.

When construction starts on the library’s expansion project, Tilton Library will be moving right next door into the South Deerfield Congregational Church, which will serve as the library’s home for at least a year.

“It’s a very familiar place for people in town. … We’ll be able to watch the construction happen pretty easily — similar to what the Greenfield library went through,” said Library Director Candace Bradbury-Carlin. “We’re all very excited.”

Tilton Library is undertaking an extensive project that will expand the building from 4,366 square feet to 12,784 square feet, while including energy-efficiency upgrades, renovating and expanding existing rooms, and improving accessibility. It is the first major renovation project at the library since the 1990s.

The library will move into the church’s function hall, but will not be using the sanctuary or the kitchen. In terms of books and other resources, Tilton Library will transfer a large portion of its children’s section, a chunk of its teen collection and the newest books from the adult section to the church, as well as DVDs, audiobooks and the Library of Things item borrowing.

While there will be fewer books available due to space constraints, Bradbury-Carlin said operation of the library will remain largely unchanged in the church. They also expect to have enough space for meetings and after-hours programming, while also having access to the Town Hall meeting room on Saturdays for larger indoor events.

“We feel we can pretty much do exactly what we’re doing,” she said. “It feels very comfortable.”

Selectboard member Tim Hilchey, who also serves on the Tilton Library Building Committee, said the request for proposals for a temporary space only drew one response, which led them to pursuing the use of the church.

The South Deerfield Congregational Church was originally pitched as a possible home for the South County Senior Center, but those plans have been pushed to the side, as the center examines a possible Sunderland location. Deerfield and the library will also save some money with the move, as Eaglebrook School will be hiring contractors to take on the minor renovations needed to make the space suitable.

“They’re handling the scope of work,” Hilchey said. “We’re really appreciative that they’ve stepped up.”

While no specific date is set for the move, Bradbury-Carlin and Hilchey said they expect it to happen sometime in late December or January.

Prior to the move, though, Bradbury-Carlin said Tilton Library will have to close for a few weeks to move items and get settled into its temporary home.

“The library’s going to make sure we make the transition as smooth as possible,” she said. “We’ll be communicating with patrons and the town about timing, when they can return books and those kinds of things.”

For more information about Tilton Library and its expansion project, visit tiltonlibrary.org/building-project.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.