Westmont Public Library staff members are hoping to kick the bucket — more specifically multiple buckets, full of rain water — later this year.

Library patrons may have recently noticed the staff has been forced to put down buckets during rainstorms due to a leaking roof. A plan to repair the damaged roof is set to begin after July 1.

Library Director Christine Kuhn said the Board of Trustees has approved the bid for Christiansen Roofing to replace the library’s roof. The bid was approved last spring from among five roofing companies with experience installing clay tile roofs. Christiansen came in with the lowest base bid at $571,000, Kuhn said.

Kate Buckson, marketing coordinator for the library, said there is no definitive time frame on how long the work could take because much of it will be based on weather conditions. Some of the work cannot be done if it is raining, she said.

“The shortest amount of time it could be is about six weeks, but we anticipate about two to three months,” Buckson said.

The library has been dealing with a leaky roof for the last several years. Kuhn said there are several leaks, with the worst being over the children's department that requires the staff to put down buckets to catch water when it rains.

The Westmont Public Library will continue to offer its full range of services during construction, including educational and entertaining programs for all ages. While the library staff will limit the inconvenience of patrons during the construction, some areas of the parking lot will be unavailable at various times, Kuhn said. Visitors may be asked to use an alternate entrance for safety reasons, she added.

“We hope our visitors will take extra care when approaching the building and have patience," Kuhn said.

Since 2007, the library has already had a number of improvements made to the building, which opened in 1993. Among the upgrades are the addition of the children’s reading garden and a Dr. Suess archway in the children's section, updated fixtures in the teen section and a new help desk to make more room for shelving and study areas. The refurbished children and youth departments were opened in 2008.

The library also has added a drive-up book drop during the spring and new front doors to make the building more compliant with the Americans for Disabilities Act.