Immense change awaits the Charleston Public Library.

The more than 100-year-old city staple is in a process that will add a new 22,000-square-foot addition to the building, tripling its current size.

Ground has already been broken on the building’s west side as well as across Fifth Street, where unused houses are being demolished to make way for a new parking lot.

These changes are being made because of an inadequate amount of space to accommodate the library’s current needs, said Sheryl Snyder, Charleston’s library director.

“9,000 square feet is very small for the library size needed for Charleston,” Snyder said.

Snyder said with the various types of resources the library provides, such as books on tape, books with large print, brail books for the blind, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes, there simply is not enough room.

“They’re at the point where when they get a new book, they actually have to take another one off the shelf,” said City Council member Larry Rennels.

While the library has roughly 51,000 books, Snyder estimates that with the new addition, that number will rise to 80,000 in five years.

The number of publicly accessible computers will also rise. There are 10 available, but Snyder expects that number to double with the addition and eventually triple.

The addition to the library will allow it to keep up with advances in modern technology, Snyder said.

“We hope to be ready for it, and have room for it,” she said.

The new addition will also allow the library to expand its children’s center, institute a new meeting room with expanded hours, and provide a drive-by book drop for visitors.

Following the construction of the new wing, the library’s current space will also be revamped. The building’s boiler will be removed in favor of more energy-efficient heating. This will free up space used for pipes, and allow for a more wide-open area. New flooring will also be installed.

“The whole place will have a cleaner, brighter look,” Snyder said.

Construction on the new building is tentatively scheduled to begin in late spring or early summer.

Mayor John Inyart said he estimates that the project will take 18 to 24 months to complete, depending on the weather.

Snyder notes that thus far, the weather has been cooperative, and she hadn’t anticipated the project being at its current state before next month.

When construction does begin, the library will continue to operate normally, though visitors may experience some minor inconveniences.

“Our goal is to keep the library open at all times,” Snyder said.

The expansion project was approved by the voters during the elections last April, and was given a $7-million referendum.

While the public may sometimes be divided on certain issues during the elections, Charleston citizens were for the most part in favor of expanding the library, Rennels said.

“It was passed by a significant majority,” Rennels said.

Overall, Snyder said she is optimistic about the library’s future.

“I think it will be very beneficial to Eastern students,” Snyder said. “As it definitely will for our local public.”