WARREN – The Warren-Trumbull County Public Library’s downtown site is branching out by about 25%.
The planned one-story addition on the library’s south side expands the building from 58,029 to 72,000 square feet. The new space will provide for more programming and resources in the children’s and teen areas. Meeting spaces will increase from two to 11, accommodating from two to 120 people.
The project is expected to go out for bids in February, with construction beginning by early April, says Jim Wilkins, W-TCPL director.
The library board is working with the local architecture firm of Baker Bednar Snyder & Associates Inc. on the $8 million expansion, which may take 18 to 24 months to complete, he says.
The W-TCPL, which employs 86, was closed from mid-March to June 1, because of the pandemic. It maintained access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital movies and music and other online resources. The library also introduced a free eCard option so clients could easily access the digital library.