Board approves expansion design for library’s Sandpoint branch

By Reader Staff

The Board of Trustees of the East Bonner County Library District recently approved the design for a two-level, 4,456 sq. ft. expansion to be located on the northwest corner of the library’s Sandpoint branch. The new addition, in accordance with Idaho Code, will be funded primarily by donations and partially from Bonner County sales tax revenue, not levied tax dollars.

“The library is looking forward to the opportunity to provide more free gathering, learning and working spaces for our community,” wrote the board in a recent news release.

The proposed first-flood expansion will include a large meeting room and a smaller, cafe-style meeting space, which could display books and other items sold by the Friends of the Library. The second story will expand the library’s existing Lifelong Learning Center, providing more private studying and tutoring rooms, in addition to a multimedia room, group study space and staff offices.

“This addition will also allow the library to increase the size of critical staff workspaces, particularly the paging room, which has been crowded and overcapacity for several years,” the news release continued.

The board had yet to announce the starting date for construction as of press time.