By Scott Elpers

The Cheney Public Library could soon double in size.

The library recently unveiled plans to expand to include the area above its current location at the corner of Main Street and First Ave in downtown Cheney.

“We’re having to get rid of books that are only three-or-four years old because we just don’t have the space,” Susan Woodard, director of the library said. “That is costing us money.”

About a year ago, the library board began looking at options for expanding. The space above the library is currently unused, expect for some storage, and would double the square footage of the entire library.

The plan is to convert the upstairs space into a young adult section, Woodard said.

“They don’t have a space downstairs now,” she said. “This can give them a place to study and read or just chill out.”

The price tag to add an upstairs to the library would cost about $160,000 and will cover everything except furnishing the space. The cost would also include stabilizing the space, which can’t currently support a large amount of foot traffic, Woodard said. The library has saved up roughly $45,000 in a capital improvement fund toward the expansion.

Woodard said the board is exploring different avenues to raise the remaining funds. They’ve looked into grants and donations, but are always ready to hear new ideas from the public, she added.

“Any feedback or comments we can get is always welcome,” Woodard said. “We would love for the community to stop by to see our plans and give us their input.”

PLACES Architectural Firm will be in charge of the addition. The firm has also done work on the City Hall building and the bottom level of the library, which was revamped about eight years ago, Woodard said.

“We have turned into a nice resource center for the community. We are much more than a collection of books,” Woodard said. “The community has been incredibly supportive of the library and we want to offer as many services as possible.”

The library currently has four computers with high speed Internet, which can be used to proctor tests for college. The Library also WiFi access, and has created a website, Facebook page and Twitter account.