The Natrona County Public Library may be one step closer to a new building.

The Casper City Council preliminarily voted at a work session on Thursday to give its approval to place the bid for a new building on the November ballot.

In order to fund the new building, the library needs county residents to approve a $43.25 million temporary sixth-cent sales tax.

Before county residents see the measure on a ballot, four out of the six municipalities must give their approval.

Library Executive Director Bill Nelson confirmed with the council that the building will meet the standards for building in the Old Yellowstone District, the building's prospective location. The council recently approved design guidelines for the redevelopment area wedged between Poplar Street and downtown.

Natrona County residents have never approved a temporary sixth cent sales tax for capital campaigns, but Nelson said this one could be different.

The library board began planning for a new library more than three years ago. It established, after a public survey, that the new library needed to be roughly 100,000 square feet and remain in central Casper. Current plans show the library to be 96,000 square feet, about three times the size of the current facility.

The board announced in March that it wanted to build on the 8.8-acre former American Pipeyard near First Street and the North Platte River. Acquisition of the land will cost roughly $3.8 million.

Nelson said there are several main reasons the library needs a new facility, including more parking, teen services and meeting spaces.

The Evansville Town Council approved the new library on Monday night, and the board will meet with the Mills council on July 9. The Midwest council is considering the request.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com

News tracker

Last we knew: The library announced plans to ask Natrona County residents to vote for a $43.25 million temporary sixth-cent sales tax. Before the tax can be placed on the November ballot, four of the six county municipalities need to give their approval.

The latest: Evansville already approved the plan, and the Casper City Council preliminarily gave its approval on Thursday night.

What's next: The library board will ask the rest of the municipalities for their support as well as the county.