It's been almost a year since the Smithtown Library experienced catastrophic flooding from a heavy storm that ravaged Suffolk County.

Plans for renovations to the basement level of the building, which was completely washed away in August, may finally be able to get underway, thanks to a $16.5 million bond referendum approved by voters in the Town of Smithtown.

Those plans include a community room, podcast studio, restored media collection, LearnLab and other services the community has come to county on from the library.

Library officials tell News 12 they hope to have the first rooms on the lower level open to the public by the end of the year or early 2026.