The city of Struthers is one step closer to seeing a brand new library built in their community.

"This is gonna be a vital part, especially in our downtown, with everything we have going on, this is just one of the biggest key components so we can't ask for anything more right now," Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone-Miller said.

The idea is to relocate the old Struther's Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County to a brand new building.

As the board of trustees approved plans to move forward with this project, it will have to commence in phases.

"The first phase is talking to the city and establishing a relationship with the land owner if they're still willing to donate land," Aimee Fifarek, CEO, director of the PLYMC said.

This first phase also includes pinpointing where to build the library, which Cercone-Miller said may be the two parcels of land at the entrance to Yellow Creek Park.

"Phase two will actually be contracting for design services so we go out to bid for an architect and we would expect that architect to help us with community engagement," Fifarek said.

Part of this second phase will include gauging what the community would like to see in a brand new library.

"The third phase would be the actual construction itself, which would involve hiring a construction management firm and subcontractors," Fifarek said.

This stage won't take place until way down the line. Fifarek said they'd like to begin the first phase in June and then potentially wrap the project up by January 2029.

"Please know that these are definitely estimated dates and they are quite conservative," Fifarek said. "At any point, the board could decide to move in a different direction, if we have a major funding cut we might have to halt a project," she said.

There was a recommendation made related to shutting down the Brownlee Woods Branch as apart of this project, but Fifarek said it was only a recommendation and no action has been taken.

As it stands, it is business as usual at the branch.