Patrons of Roanoke County's busiest library will have to wait a while longer before they have a shining new facility.

Plans for a new South County library to be built on Merriman Road are being reconfigured after bids for the project came in at least 25 percent above the budget.

Some $16 million of a recent $58 million bond issue was designated for the new library -- $12.4 million for the building itself.

It was the last of five major capital improvement projects funded by the bonds. All the other projects came in at or below budget, said Don Karns, the county's purchasing manager. The others are a new recreation center in North Roanoke County, a new fleet service center at Hollins Road and Carlo Drive, a new fire and rescue building in North County, a waterline extension to the Franklin County line, and an upgrade to the public-safety radio system.

Recent volatility in fuel and metals prices apparently dramatically affected the six bids for the library. The lowest was $16.3 million and the highest $19.9 million.

County staff, as well as architects and engineers, are examining the bids and plans to determine where the greatest discrepancies in cost estimates exist, said Diana Rosapepe, director of library services.

The new building will replace the existing facility on Virginia 419, which she described as "a drive-by library. It's not comfortable for patrons to spend time there; there's no room for them, almost no seating and no parking space."

In creating a new library, "the whole point of this exercise is to get a library that works well," Rosapepe said. "Our mission is to preserve the functions people want and need -- the circulation desks, reference desk, meeting room space, public spaces where people can sit comfortably."

The plans "never were luxurious," she said, but in looking to cut costs the first areas they'll examine include things such as trim work, fittings and exterior finishes.

Rosapepe said she continues to believe the section of the building designed as a public meeting space that can be used outside of library hours remains a priority for the design. It includes meeting rooms, a coffee shop and public spaces.

The planned 55,000-square-foot building also includes many high-tech features, including Wi-Fi and computer docking stations.

In making choices to trim costs, "our goal is to keep everything related to programs that are there now, to make changes that will not impact the use of the building," said Diane Hyatt, the county's chief financial officer.

"Our construction manager and architects are pretty confident we can do that."

An amphitheater planned outside one end of the building will be delayed, but it was not part of the bidding, Rosapepe said. The system of trails in and around the wetlands on the library site are being funded separately through grants and other sources, and are unaffected by the bidding process.

Although the submitted bids have not officially been rejected, Hyatt said, the library project almost certainly will be submitted for rebidding. For one thing, the county code specifies that any project with a low bid more than 10 percent above the budgeted price be revised and opened to new bids.

She said the delays likely mean the new library will not open before spring of 2011.

The high bids are disappointing, Rosapepe said, not only for the staff, but for patrons.

"Anyone you talk to in the [Virginia 419] library wants this to happen. They're just waiting for it to begin. ... I hate disappointing them."