By Brenda Starkey
Chronicle staff

     OROVILLE - The Friends of the Library is looking into getting a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to fund construction of a new library.
     There is an architectural drawing of an arts and crafts-style building they would like to see built at the present library site, but there are no engineering plans for a building yet.
     City officials said engineering services would have to be worked into the grant.
     Rural Development officials asked the friends group to submit an application, grant writer and Friends of the Library member Julie Ashmore said.
     The project has the potential for a large amount of funding, and other sources are more apt to support the project knowing that USDA is on board, she said.
     The Friends of the Library has $31,000 in its building fund and the city has set aside $78,000 over about 10 years to remodel the current building.
     If a plan is not finalized for a new building, the city has budgeted about $10,000 out of the $78,000 to put a new roof on the present building, City Clerk Kathy Jones said.
     The council approved giving the friends group a letter of support for the project Dec. 15.
     City officials agreed to work with the friends to try and determine how much work will be involved to get a USDA grant, which would use stimulus funds.
     The council anticipates considering the request for grant support Feb. 16.