Construction on the new Scenic Regional Library location on Wildcat Drive next to West Elementary in Wright City is expected to be completed by May 1.Meanwhile, progress on renovations and additions at the current Warrenton branch have been on hold but are still expected to be finished by August.Scenic Regional Library Director Steve Campbell said these projects are part of a massive expansion within the organization. Wright City joins four other communities, Sullivan, Pacific, New Haven and Owensville, in receiving new branches.“The process is moving very rapidly,” said Campbell. “We expect Wright City to be one of our first two done, along with New Haven.”The Wright City location is particularly convenient, in that it’s within walking distance from West Elementary, as well as Wright City Middle School and the Early Childhood Education Center.“We were very fortunate to be able to acquire that site,” said Campbell. “The Wright City School District sold it to us for a very reasonable price.”Work on the inside walls has been completed and windows recently were installed on the Wright City location, which will feature children, teen and adult areas, a meeting room and private study rooms in the 7,770-square-foot space.“It’s an ideal location, and I think the branch will be extremely busy from the onset,” said Campbell. “Wright City has needed a location for a long time.”R-II Superintendent Dr. David Buck is excited about the presence of the library that will enhance learning for the students in the district.“We know that not all kids have high-speed internet at home,” said Buck. “Now that we are one-to-one with the Chromebooks, we were having to keep the school open later so kids could access the internet. Now with the library opening, this will allow them another place to go in the evenings to study.”The Warrenton branch faced a disruption in progress for about a month after the removal of soil and shoring up of the existing foundation was required.“When we did that, we had to put bids out and that set us back,” said Campbell. “We’re back at it now, and we should be just a little later in the summer with completion than originally expected.”Campbell expects the concrete footings to be poured over the next few weeks and steel structure work to take form during February.As for disruptions to the functionality of the current building, Campbell said the men’s restroom will be closed for the last two weeks of January. During this time the women’s restroom will be converted into a unisex facility with locks for private use.For those interested in following the progress on each of the new building sites or viewing the blueprints, visit scenicregional.com

This Jan. 16, 2018, photo shows construction progress at the Scenic Regional Library in Wright City. The building is expected to be finished by May 1.

Record photo/Derrick Forsythe