Briggs Lawrence Library officials want to know how to best use the space they have at the corner of South Fourth and Adams streets, and they're looking for professional help in making that determination.

Library Director Joe Jenkins said the board placed advertisements earlier this month in

newspapers in Ironton, Columbus and Huntington, W.Va., asking for architects or engineering firms with experience in renovations or expansions of libraries. Jenkins said the board has been considering for some time now how to accommodate the library's continued growth.

"This is part of a process the board is undertaking to fully utilize what we have. In order to do do this we decided to seek professional services, and get answers to questions that we can't answer ourselves, such as what we can do, what it will cost, the designs (that are possible)," Jenkins said. "It's an involved process."

Jenkins said that in addition to the library's current building, the firm chosen will also look at two adjacent properties that the library owns, to see what can be done to use these spaces to their maximum potential. Those properties are a house at the corner of Fourth and Washington and a house on Fourth Street across from the library building.

Interested architects and engineering firms are asked to answer a list of 15 questions about such things as the history of the their business, if the firm has any construction management experience, and if the firm has ever performed library-related work.

Jenkins said the board hopes to choose a firm by May.