SOUTH BEND — Work will begin this spring on expansion of the St. Joseph County Public Library’s four city branches.

The library board on Monday accepted a bid of $3.96 million from Gibson-Lewis LLC of Mishawaka to serve as construction contractor for the projects at the LaSalle, River Park, Tutt and Western branches. The vote was 5-0.

Those buildings, identical in size and design, each will be expanded by about 5,000 square feet.

The Western and River Park Branches will close in late April or early May for six to eight months of construction and improvements. After those branches reopen, the LaSalle and Tutt branches will close for six to eight months of similar work.

The board also voted 5-0 to pay $76,000 to purchase additional land from a neighbor adjacent to the Francis Branch, 52655 N. Ironwood Dr., for the planned new branch at that location.

The half-acre parcel needed for expansion is priced at $48,000. The library will pay an additional $28,000 because, in order to get the site plan approved, the neighbor must give up rights to a strip of land up to 40 feet wide along Ironwood to St. Joseph County for possible future widening of the road.

The library will compensate the property owner for the loss of that land, but the strip itself will transfer to county control and won’t be used for the library project.

In addition, the library agreed to lease small sections of land north and west of the construction site for use as parking during the construction project. The cost will be $1,500 per month for up to 18 months.

In other business, the board reelected its 2007 officers to serve in the same roles for 2008: John Wibbens, president; Mark Green, vice president; and Melvin Holmes, secretary.