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Residents will more than likely be able to enjoy the updated amenities of the LaGrange Memorial Library by early 2023, said Troup-Harris Regional Library System Director Keith Schuermann.

Construction on the LaGrange Memorial Library, which has been ongoing since early 2021, is expected to be substantially completed by October. Four additional months will be needed to install furniture, glass walls and other equipment before it can be open to the public, Schuermann said.

The $8 million project was originally expected to be near completion in late 2022, but the date was pushed back due to a price increase on construction materials.

Currently, the library renovation project is still shy about $1.48 million, Schuermann said, and the library has been pursuing grants to fill in the gap.

Of that shortfall, the library has raised $129,633, the majority of which was from a private donor, and public donations through direct mail.

“We sent out about 800 mailers … and from that we’ve gained about $19,633 so far, and they’re still trickling in,” he said. “With that, we’re at about 11% of our fundraising goal.”

Recently, Schuermann noted, the library project received a $10,000 corporate donation from Georgia Power.

Troup County and the City of LaGrange both contributed $1 million each to the renovation project in its early stages, a $2 million capital grant from the state of Georgia and $2 million from the Callaway Foundation. Upon completion, the new library will include a new layout, spaces for programming and furniture and finishes.

Patrons can donate to the library project at https://thrl.org/.