Staff at the Wellman-Scofield Public Library are gearing up for a major renovation, scheduled to begin this spring. 

Assistant Director for the library, Carrie Geno, tells KCII the plans for the expansion which is projected to cost $832,000. “We will be expanding into the unoccupied portion of our building which will basically double our space. It is located to the east, so we’ll be removing quite a few walls and opening things up, adding a programming room, a study room, and giving us more shelf space”

Tentative plans are to begin work in June. During the renovation, the library will be temporarily housed in the Driscoll Building in downtown Wellman. Last month, the Wellman City Council approved the rental contract for the move. Despite the move, Geno anticipated the library to continue offering their usual services, with summer reading programs likely held at North Park or the Wellman Parkside YMCA. 

The project is being funded in a group effort. Along with a grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation and $100,000 pledged from the City of Wellman, the library has held a variety of fundraisers over the last several years. The renovations are expected to be completed by this fall.