The Schlow Memorial Library Board of Trustees agreed yesterday with the State College Borough for the transfer of property for an expanded multi-million dollar library.

State College Borough will purchase the land from 221 to 227 S. Allen St. for the construction of the larger library, which could more than double the library's current size.

Centre Hardware is located at the proposed library site. Borough Council President Janet Knauer, who attended the meeting, said she didn't have estimates on how much the land would cost the borough to donate.

The expanded library will include its current site, 100 E. Beaver Ave., and part of the nearby alley as well as South Allen Street.

Additionally last night, the board voted to hire the fundraising firm Goettler Associates of Columbus, Ohio, to perform a feasibility study to determine how much money the library could raise for construction.

Trustee Board Vice President Dan Hawbaker said the library may cost $7 million to $8 million, but no official estimates will be available until the engineering firm Hayes Large Architects of State College and Altoona completes the preliminary plan.

The library will be constructed with private and public funds, and each of the surrounding area municipalities has pledged money.

Though Knauer said the State College Borough was paying a larger portion because it is also donating the land, she said the borough will not raise taxes to fund the project.

Currently, the library is 15,000 square feet, and the trustees hope to expand to 35,000 to 40,000 square feet. The national average for libraries with similar populations to Centre County is 41,000 feet.

Board members are excited to be able to expand after talking about the project for eight years.

"You're investing in the future of State College and the Centre Region," library director Betsy Allen said. "Libraries are an institution that serves people of all ages and can really make a difference."

The last major construction project on the library was in 1986, and the library has been housed at its current site for about 35 years, Allen said.

A possible obstacle to the project is a Centre Region Council of Governments requirement. For every 500 feet of space, there must be one free parking space.

At 40,000 square feet, that would mean the library would be required to have 80 free parking spaces.

A recent estimate by the borough revealed that the projected cost to build a parking deck, per parking space, is $20,000, meaning parking requirements alone for the library could reach $1.6 million.

While the library is being constructed, its books and furniture will be housed free of charge in the current municipal building, 118 S. Fraser St., once the borough moves to its new home.

The board hopes construction can begin early next year and be completed in late 2003.