MARATHON -- Voters in Marathon on Tuesday approved building a $550,000 public library by an overwhelming margin of 86 percent to 14 percent.

Only 56 voters opposed the new library, compared with 333 who voted in favor of the project. There are 1,034 registered voters in the village.

Village residents will pay for half of the library to be built next spring near the corner of Fourth and Washington streets on land donated by the Marathon Area Swim Association. The Marathon County Library System will fund the other half.

The decision Tuesday was applauded by library supporters who are tired of cramped quarters at the current 900-square-foot facility attached to the Marathon Municipal Center. The new library will be 3,000 square feet.

"I'm very pleased with the results, and this shows how much support the village has for the library," said Phyllis Christensen, Marathon County's library director.

Voters at the polls Tuesday said a new library would provide a valuable resource for the community, and especially for children.

"I've got a long history of love of books, and I'm a volunteer here at the library," said Linda Kilsdonk, 57. "We need (a new library) very badly."

Lisa Borth has two daughters, 9 and 11, both of whom are avid readers. Borth, 40, said the library not only offers literature and movies, but also arts and crafts, musicians and programs that are great for kids.

Often, Borth said, it is too crowded at the Marathon Library and it is difficult to get the book she and her daughters want.

"There's a lot of kids and people that use the library and there aren't enough computers to use," said Borth, after casting a vote in favor of the new library.

In 2003, Marathon library users checked out 23,849 items. That number has risen steadily, and in 2008, 36,295 items were checked out, according to library records.

Tuesday's referendum was the second passed by village voters in six months. In May, a $1.3 million fire station to be built on Market Street won approval.

Construction on the new library is expected to be completed next summer, said Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer David Joswiak.