Twiggs County officials will break ground at 11 a.m. Thursday for a new library.

The library, estimated to cost $1.7 million, will be built at the corner of Ash and Main streets in Jeffersonville.

Thousands of books, as well as historical documents, were lost during a fire that destroyed the original library on April 26, 2010.

The proposed 6,700-square-foot building will include a multipurpose room, one for children’s books and a “story time” area, an adult reading and browsing area, computers for adults and children and more areas for books. Construction will begin in July.

Funding for the library includes $1.2 million from a state public library grant fund and insurance money.

The new library should be open in early 2013.