HOWLAND — The Howland Library could look different in the coming months, thanks to a project aimed at meeting the community’s needs and modernizing it.

On Tuesday, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library officials announced a planned renovation and expansion project at the Howland Library, which will introduce a dedicated children’s programming room by enclosing an underused outdoor concrete space.

“This enhancement will provide a safer, more functional environment for the library’s highly popular youth programs while also freeing up the community room for increased public use and reservations,” a release from the library states.

The release states private study rooms are planned to support individual learning, as well as expanded collaborative spaces and an area specifically for teens, adding that staff work areas will be reconfigured to support modern workflows and efficiency.

The project will also handle the building’s infrastructure, with a new roof, replacing original carpeting and furnishings, and upgrades to the building’s drainage systems.

The release states the surrounding property will also be regraded to improve water management, repair minor foundation cracks and replace PVC piping in the building’s HVAC system with steel piping to prevent future leaks.

The project will be funded through the library’s capital budget, which is credited to “careful financial stewardship, planning and saving” to avoid requesting funds from taxpayers, according to the release.

The release states the project is expected to go out to bid mid-April, with a contractor to be selected 30 days later, and construction could start in June.

The library will stay open for the first two months of construction before a six-month closure to allow for the project’s completion.

The W-TCPL plans to continue serving Howland by adding weekly Bookmobile stops and partnering with local organizations to offer children’s programming at other community locations, the release states.

The Howland Library saw 46,262 visitors in the building, circulated 49,958 items and had 3,762 people attend 245 programs in 2025, according to W-TCPL Executive Director Kimberly Garrett, who added that the library has already seen an increase in visits in 2026 compared with last year.

This project represents an investment in the future of our community,” Garrett said. “We are proud to enhance the Howland Library in a way that reflects how our customers use the library today while ensuring the building remains safe, functional and welcoming for decades to come.”