The Schlow Memorial Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously last night to select the architectural firm that will design the new library to serve the Centre Region.

The board voted 8-0, appointing Hayes Large Architects of State College and Altoona to design the facility. The firm is recognized as one of the nation's leading educational, health care and corporate architectural firms.

The library will be located on the current site, 100 E. Beaver Ave., and will use adjacent land that includes part of the alley and the old Centre Hardware on South Allen Street, which will be purchased and donated by the State College Borough.

At the meeting in council chambers, the library board also discussed the fund-raising firm selection progress, which will help with the library campaign.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm just darn excited about the progress we're making," Board President Jeff Kline said to the other board members.

Speaking of the pending land donation from the borough, Kline said, "The borough is absolutely gracious and extremely giving."

The borough also offered the library free use of the current municipal building, 118 S. Fraser St., during the construction of the new library. The borough plans to vacate the facility by the end of this year, when the new municipal building is finished.

The library board anticipates it will use that facility for about 18 months. The board hopes construction will begin in early 2002. If work proceeds as planned, the library should be ready for use by late 2003.

"It's a great time for a new library," Kline said, adding there will be more room for high-speed Internet connections.

Though the cost of the new library cannot be determined until Hayes Large prepares a preliminary budget, it will be funded by donations from private and public sources.

The new spacious library may include part of the current facility. However, depending on site and functionality restraints, it may not be possible to keep any part of the 15,000-square-feet building.

The new library will be between 35,000 and 40,000 square feet. The national average for libraries serving areas similar to the Centre Region is 41,000 square feet. In accordance with Centre Region Council of Governments' requirement, the new library must also have one free parking space for every 500 square feet of building.

Although she arrived a few minutes late to observe the meeting, the board briefed State College Borough Council President Janet Knauer on the unanimous vote.

"I'm glad to hear it. We're waiting to do our next step," Knauer said.

Though council wants to donate land to the library, members are still negotiating with the owners of the old Centre Hardware store. Once they complete negotiations, the borough will be able to move into a legal agreement with the library board. That agreement will then enable the borough to transfer the land to the library, Kline said.

Borough council will meet on Feb. 5 and will likely pass the agreement on the transfer of land, Kline said. When the library board meets two days later, it will be able to vote, as well.

Knauer said she expects council to pass the motion. "This is something we're behind 100 percent," she said.

Library Director Betsy Allen expressed pleasure after the meeting.

"It feels very exciting. I knew this day would come," Allen said, adding, "It's going to be a long process."

That process involves the selection of a fund-raising firm that will be responsible for conducting a feasibility study, as well as campaign consulting, she said.