Forsyth library branch to close

An artist rendering of the expansion and renovation of the Sharon Forks library branch

An artist rendering of the expansion and renovation of the Sharon Forks library branch

The Sharon Forks branch of the Forsyth County Public Library will be closed from Feb. 19 to March 23 while the second phase of renovation and expansion is completed.

Library officials and construction crews will utilize the month-long shutdown to complete such tasks as installation of furniture and computers and shelving thousands of books. A grand re-opening has been set for late March.

County and library officials broke ground on the expansion in November of 2016. The $7.2 million project almost doubled the size of the branch and includes a larger community room, a dedicated teen facility, a half-dozen study rooms, an expanded bookstore and an automated drive-through book return.

Officials said the expansion was badly needed, as traffic at the branch had grown by more than 300 percent since its opening in 2000. The branch is at 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming.