RUMFORD – Residents won’t make a decision on the future of the Rumford Public Library when they go to the polls in June.

Librarian and Library Growth Committee member, Karl Aromaa, said Friday that the group decided to hold off on a public vote until the November elections.

Plans had been to present voters with three options on June 12: build a one-story facility, construct a major addition and renovation to the current Carnegie Library, or bring the existing building up to code.

“The more time, the better, to get information to the public,” he said. “We want to be able to show people something.”

He said the lateness in contracting with an architect was one of the reasons for delaying the public vote.

The growth committee and architects from Scott Simons Associates have been working on a plan to build a modern facility on a portion of land once occupied by Stephens High School on Penobscot Street. Although the floor plan has been largely developed, an elevation drawing showing what a new facility would look like is not yet ready for public view, Aromaa said.

Also, he said insufficient time is available to hold a series of public informational meetings on the proposed project.

Architectural plans for a major addition have already been developed.

Aromaa said the plans for a new library are coming along well, with growth committee members discussing what they like and don’t like.

The next meeting of the Library Growth Committee is set for 5 p.m. May 8 at the library when the group will continue meetings with architects.

Although a study conducted two years ago recommended construction of a new facility to meet the needs of a modern library and to provide better parking and access, a straw poll taken last year showed a majority of voters preferred to retain the current historic building constructed in 1903.

For this year, Aromaa said plans are to continue with ongoing maintenance of the library, including replacement of half the slate roof.

He said the flat-roofed portion was repaired last year. This year’s library budget request asks for about $39,000 to repair half the slate roof. Next year, he said the library budget request will ask for funding to repair the rest.