R.T. Jones Memorial Library in Canton will be closed for a week as part of the expansion and renovation under way.

The library will be closed from Monday, Aug. 30, through Labor Day, Sept. 6, re-opening on Sept. 7.

"While the library has worked to be open as much as possible, a couple of small closures (including this one) are inevitable," said Susan White, director of the Sequoyah Regional Library System. "We look forward to serving our patrons in our newly renovated facility when this is all complete, but we'll do the very best we can to serve them in the interim."

A few more months of work are still needed to complete the $1.4 million project, which is adding a teen center, story time room, a "quiet room," training lab and new carpeting.

The state government is funding the majority of the project, with local impact fees and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenues covering the remainder.

"There might well be another closure or two, but of course we'll do our best to notify the public in advance and to keep any closures as brief as possible," Mrs. White said.

When the library reopens on Sept. 7, a new feature will be available. Patrons will be able to use 50 new laptop computers, which will replace many of the existing computer stations.

"This is a substantial upgrade in terms of capacity and of quality," library system IT Manager Donna Ferguson said. "Not only are these laptops faster and better computers, but we have 50 of them to offer, as opposed to the less than 30 that were available to patrons before."

To use a laptop, patrons will need to present a library card and a photo ID. Non-Cherokee residents will need to present two forms of ID, one of which must be a photo ID.

Also beginning on Sept. 1, patrons with a fine balance of more than $5 on a library card will not be able to use a computer at the library.

For information about other branches, call (770) 479-3090 or see the website at www.sequoyah

regionallibrary.org.