The Cullman County Library Board is entering “phase two” of its plans to renovate and expand the system’s main branch located in downtown Cullman.

In June, the board approved for Birmingham, Alabama-based architecture firm Williams Blackstock to conduct a feasibility study to determine if additions and expansions onto the current building were possible. Last week, the board was informed the study had been completed and was ready to move forward with the next steps of the process.

“Up until this point it has just been the question of if we could even entertain the idea of expanding and renovating and we have come to conclusion that it is feasible,” boardmember Jill Meggs said. “With phase two, we will go into the official engagement part of this process.”

Meggs said that while the news was exciting, she was clear that there was still a considerably long road ahead. Library director Amber Thornton said engineers with the firm will now begin studying the building and its surroundings, as well as collecting soil samples in order to determine the best solution to expanding the building.

Thornton said she has discussed the plans to expand the library with both city of Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs and Cullman County Commission Chairman Jeff Clemons and that both have been supportive of the project. She said Jacobs and Clemons have indicated that funding for the project would be included in future budget proposals.

The board also discussed involving the community in the redesign process through a series of upcoming town hall meetings.

“We know the conception of the Cullman library was a group of residents who wanted a library and that’s the form this project will take again,” Meggs said. “It is really our community dollars coming together to build the facility.”

In other business the board:

— Approved updates to the library’s disaster policy manual.

— Approved to close an unused Merchants Bank bank account and transfer the remaining funds to the library’s primary account.

— Approved the purchase of an on-site AED device and to train library employees on its use.

— Approved Thornton to participate in the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.