Efforts to build a new public library in Lakeville got a shot in the arm last week from the Addison Township Board.

Officials voted 6-0 to approve a resolution of support for the project. Trustee Erich Senft was absent.

“I’ve used libraries ever since I was a little guy and my mother was a big supporter of libraries,” said township Supervisor Bruce Pearson.

The resolution goes beyond flowery words by giving the library a deep discount on the site plan fees that the township normally charges. Officials agreed to waive the $300 application fee and only charge the library 50 percent of the $5,040 fee to review the site plan. The only thing not discounted were the engineer’s fees.

Library officials are working toward constructing a new 5,000-square-foot facility on a 3.8-acre site along Rochester Rd. between Cantley St. and Milmine Rd.

The plan is to build the new facility using a combination of the library’s savings (more than $400,000), a bank loan, monetary contributions and donations of goods and services. No tax increases or new taxes will be sought, according to library officials.

As part of the resolution, township officials also agreed that whenever possible, the government will assist the library by putting its officials in touch with skilled tradesmen and contractors who are interested in providing their services at “reduced” rates and volunteers who are willing to perform manual labor.

Volunteers played a crucial role in creating the current library space in 2011. They handled many things, including demolition, cleanup, painting, moving books and sealcoating the parking lot.

Township Trustee Joel King recalled attending a volunteer gathering back then. He thought it was just going to be an informational meeting, but the next thing King knew, they were putting him to work.

“Bruce (Pearson) handed me a sledgehammer and we proceeded to start taking down walls,” King said.

King noted he’s “glad” to see the township is “continuing to support” having an “independent” library in the community.

On behalf of the library, Jaema Berman, its director, expressed her “sincerest gratitude” to township officials for approving this “heartfelt resolution.” Berman said supporting the construction of a new library “speaks to” the “hopes and dreams” that Addison residents have “for their children and for their grandchildren.”

“The growth and expansion” of the library, she said, is about “bringing people together to embody and embrace what we are today and what we can be in the future.”