Careful planning Library committee

The trustees' building and sites committee of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County discussed these items Wednesday:
Construction of a branch library in the North Jackson area is on hold while Jackson-Milton school officials work to pass levy for construction of a new school. School and library officials want to work together to make a branch library part of a new school building. Carlton Sears, library director, said library and school officials will continue to meet to discuss options.
Tom Roepke, a facilities consultant, is working with Sears and the trustees in planning for construction of a library branch on the Youngstown's East Side at East High Avenue and Early Road, and for renovation of the former Giant Eagle at Market and Midlothian on the city's South Side to a branch library and operations center. Sears said planning for both projects will be ongoing simultaneously, and planning for both is in the early stages of information gathering. He said library officials will meet with community focus groups before selecting architects.
Trustees said they need to brainstorm about ways the library system can fulfill campaign promises to voters who approved the library levy in November. Library officials want to increase library collections and expand hours. Sears said library officials and staff need to make the best use of time and resources possible and plan budgets carefully and stick to them.