Library branch will open in mid-January

POLAND -- The branch library under construction in New Middletown will open Jan. 19, Library Director Carlton A. Sears announced.
The new library, at 10418 Main St., is a branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, and will serve the New Middletown, New Springfield, Petersburg and southeastern areas of the county.
The current New Middletown branch, located in the township building, will close at the end of the business day Dec. 29, so materials can be moved into the new building. When the new branch opens, the library will be open about the same number of hours per week as it is now. However, with passage of the county library levy in November, library administrators are planning to expand hours in the spring.
Book drop to stay
The book drop at the current library will remain in place until the new library opens, for the convenience of patrons.
The project's cost is $533,770. General contractor is Brock Builders Inc. of Youngstown. Other contractors on the project are: GuntonCorp./Pella Window and Door of Bedford Heights; Joe Dickey Electric Inc. of North Lima; Thornton & amp; Son Heating-Cooling-Plumbing Inc. of Youngstown; A.A. Samuels Sheet Metal Co. Inc. of Youngstown, and Interior Products Co., Cleveland, millwork.
Fund raising for the new branch has been ongoing in the community and has brought in more than $11,800 thus far. For information about the fund raising campaign or to donate, contact the library's Development Office at (330) 744-8636, ext. 118.
In other news from the library board meeting, a general fund budget of $14,494,368 was adopted for 2006, up from the previous budget of $11,976,515. This new budget reflects additional income from passage of the library levy in November. The building and repair budget for 2006 will be $4,830,236, up from $3,247,886.